BEVERLY HILLS, September 07, (THEWILL) – The Abuja High Court on Wednesday granted N10 million bail to Godsday Orubebe, a former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, who is standing trial for allegedly diverting N2.3 billion of public funds.
The court granted bail in the sum of N20 million each to Oludare Alaba and Ephraim Zeri, Directors of Contract in the Ministry who were accused alongside Orubebe.
They were arraigned on a six-count charge by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, which includes an alleged diversion of about N2.3 billion meant for the dualisation of Section IV of the East-West Road.
Orubebe allegedly circumvented a Federal Executive Council approval for the dualisation of the Eket-Oron Road, part of the East-West Road which runs from Edo to Bayelsa and instructed the contractor, Gitto Construction, to rehabilitate instead of dualising as approved by the council.
He was also accused of making false statements to the ICPC claiming that the decision to rehabilitate the road rather than dualise it was taken after he had left office as the Minister.
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, in his ruling, ordered that Orubebe must produce one surety in like sum who must be a responsible Nigerian with evidence of three years tax payment and owns landed property within the FCT.
He ruled that Messrs. Alaba and Zeri should also produce one surety each in like sum, who must be an Assistant Director in the civil service and a land owner within the court’s jurisdiction adding that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means.
Adeniyi declared that the accused were to remain in the custody of the ICPC until the bail conditions were met as he adjourned the case till November 10 for hearing.
Story by David Oputah
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