*Orubebe: witness insists he didn’t declare Abuja plot in asset form

A prosecution witness in former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, trial has reiterated that Orubebe did not declare his Plot 2057 in Asokoro.

Orubebe was arraigned by the Federal Government on a one-count charge bordering on allegation of failure to declare Plot 2057 in Asokoro, Abuja, which he had pleaded not guilty.

Mr Sam Madojemu, the witness restated this during cross examination by Orubebe’s counsel, Mr Larry Selekowei (SAN), at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja, on Thursday.

He said that the document he obtained from FCT Land Registry indicated that there was three Plots of land allocated to Orubebe.

He said Plot 2057, Asokoro Cadastral Zone A04, was the subject matter of the charge which Orubebe failed to declare as at the time he left office on April 10, 2011.

He said the other two plots that were declared by Orubebe were Plot 2460, Cadastral Zone A05 Maitama, Abuja, and Plot 1736, Cadastral Zone A09 Guzape District, Abuja.

The witness said the Right of Occupancy and the Certificate of Occupancy of both plots were signed by the defendant himself.

Madojemu said there was no place in the asset declaration form where Orubebe indicted that the said plot 2057 was giving to him by the Federal Government free of charge.

He further asserted under re-examination by prosecuting counsel, Mohammed Diri, that he call the defendant on telephone to come and clarify issues regarding Plot 2057, but Orubebe failed to honoured the invitation.

Madojemu said that the plot existed and belonged to the defendant, adding that it was allocated to him in April 10, 2011.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, adjourned the case till May 24 for further hearing.