February 16, (THEWILL) – The Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed the appeal filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, challenging the court of appeal judgment which nullified the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), ruling that convicted a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe of false declaration of assets in 2007.
A five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Garba Mohammed, in a unanimous judgment, upheld the judgement of the Appellate court that discharged and acquitted the erstwhile Minister.
Justice Emmanuel Agim who read the lead judgement, held that the Federal Government, acted in breach of its rules when it failed to obtain permission before it appealed to “mixed law and facts.”
THEWILL reports that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, had on June 14, 2017, nullified Orubebe’s conviction.
In a unanimous decision, the appellate court panel, led by Justice Mohammed Abdul Aboki, voided Orubebe’s conviction on the premise that the CCT verdict occasioned a miscarriage of justice against him.
The CCT had held that Orubebe shielded his ownership of Plot 2057, Asokoro District, Abuja.
Ruling on a one-count charge filed against Orubebe by the Federal Government, the tribunal held that the said property should be forfeited to the government.
