By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja yesterday, ordered erstwhile Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, to appear before it on May 31 to open his defence on the allegation that he falsely declared his assets in 2007.

Orubebe is facing a one-count amended charge the Federal Government preferred against him.

Government alleged that the former minister failed to declare his ownership of Plot 2057, situated at Asokoro District in Abuja.

He was said to have committed an offence contrary to Section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. 15 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014, and punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act.

Meanwhile, the CCT panel, headed by Justice Danladi Umar, ordered the defendant to prepare his defence after the prosecution closed its case yesterday.

Though the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, initially told the tribunal that government would call three witnesses to testify against the defendant at the resumed sitting on the matter, the prosecution, however, called its case having called only one witness.

The DPP, who was represented by another lawyer from the Ministry of Justice, Ejike Orji, said government was satisfied that it had through the evidence of the sole witness, Mr. Samuel Madojemu, established a prima facie case against the defendant.

Orji said: “Having reviewed the case, we felt there is no further cause to call any other witness in this matter. Consequently, we humbly apply to close our case for the prosecution.”

Reacting to the development, Orubebe’s lawyer, Mr. Selekowei Larry (SAN), told the tribunal that the decision of the prosecution caught them unawares, saying the defence team never envisaged that Federal Government would apply to close its case after the evidence of the single witness.

He, therefore, prayed the tribunal for a short adjournment to enable his team prepare its defence to the charge.

The application was not opposed by the prosecution and the tribunal adjourned the matter till May 31.

The witness, Madojemu, had in his evidence-in-chief, insisted that the property at Plot no. 2057, Asokoro, belonged to Orubebe.