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Elder Godsday Orubebe, the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has claimed Nigeria is paying him back for his service with unjust criminal charges against him.
Orubebe made this known during his trial on Thursday, June 2, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), over alleged failure to declare his assets in 2011.
According to the ex-minister, he regrets serving Nigeria in ministerial capacity, This Day reports.
Orubebe, who was led in evidence by his counsel, Selekowei Larry (SAN), told the tribunal that the charges against him were uncalled for because the property for which he was arraigned does not belong to him.
He claimed that despite serving Nigeria diligently and energetically for six years and four months, the payback for his service was the criminal charges brought against him unjustly.
In an emotionally laden remark while giving evidence, Orubebe said: “Let me make this point now here before this tribunal that the only regret I have for serving this country is this trial. It is very unfortunate, it is regrettable and it is shameful. I am sad and my heart is heavy because I am put on trial on mere empty land in the bush here in Abuja officially given to me by the same government I served.
“Nigerians may not know this and I wish to say it out that during the peak of the militancy in the Niger Delta, I slept with the militants in the Creek for two weeks, negotiated with them on how to adopt peaceful approach for their demands, and in the end, my efforts brought peace to this country and our oil companies have their peace and Nigeria was better for it in the area of security and economy because of my efforts, only to be compensated with this trial that has destabilized me.
“I still love this country but, I have a pain in my neck. I have respect for government and its policies. If the Code of Conduct Bureau had invited me for clarifications on my asset forms, I would have honoured them because it is a simple thing to do and because my conscience is clear.”
Orubebe made this known during his trial on Thursday, June 2, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), over alleged failure to declare his assets in 2011.
According to the ex-minister, he regrets serving Nigeria in ministerial capacity, This Day reports.
Orubebe, who was led in evidence by his counsel, Selekowei Larry (SAN), told the tribunal that the charges against him were uncalled for because the property for which he was arraigned does not belong to him.
He claimed that despite serving Nigeria diligently and energetically for six years and four months, the payback for his service was the criminal charges brought against him unjustly.
In an emotionally laden remark while giving evidence, Orubebe said: “Let me make this point now here before this tribunal that the only regret I have for serving this country is this trial. It is very unfortunate, it is regrettable and it is shameful. I am sad and my heart is heavy because I am put on trial on mere empty land in the bush here in Abuja officially given to me by the same government I served.
“Nigerians may not know this and I wish to say it out that during the peak of the militancy in the Niger Delta, I slept with the militants in the Creek for two weeks, negotiated with them on how to adopt peaceful approach for their demands, and in the end, my efforts brought peace to this country and our oil companies have their peace and Nigeria was better for it in the area of security and economy because of my efforts, only to be compensated with this trial that has destabilized me.
“I still love this country but, I have a pain in my neck. I have respect for government and its policies. If the Code of Conduct Bureau had invited me for clarifications on my asset forms, I would have honoured them because it is a simple thing to do and because my conscience is clear.”