The continuous presence as Ministers in the federal government of Diezani Alison-Madueke and Godsday Orubebe is not only a disgrace to the government and people of Nigeria but also confirmation that President Goodluck Jonathan condones corruption, the Anti-Corruption Network said yesterday.
The continuous presence as Ministers in the federal government of Diezani Alison-Madueke and Godsday Orubebe is not only a disgrace to the government and people of Nigeria but also confirmation that President Goodluck Jonathan condones corruption, the Anti-Corruption Network said yesterday.
In a press statement, the group expressed concern that despite the evidence and exposure of the corruption perpetrated by both Ministers, they and others like them still sit comfortably every Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting under the watchful eyes of Mr. Jonathan, who has said he is actively fighting corruption.
The Anti-Corruption Network declared that it may sue the House of Representatives if in the next 14 days it fails to invite the Ministers, recalling that in November 2012, the House adopted a resolution by which it was going to investigate the corruption charges concerning Mr. Orubebe.
“The House went further to set up a Committee to probe these corruption allegations against him, noting with surprise that neither the Petroleum Downstream nor the Anti-Corruption committee in the House has yet invited the Ministers to testify.
“We see this as a serious compromise against the spirit of that resolution as deposited in the vote and proceedings of the House,” the statement said.
“We are therefore calling on the House of Representatives and indeed, the Committees to, within 14 days invite Orubebe and other stakeholders in this matter or face a legal action from the Anti-Corruption Network.”
The group said that in its task of fighting corruption to a standstill in Nigeria, no amount of name calling, blackmail, intimidation, arrest and rearrest, lies and fallacy will detract it from championing the God-given assignment of exposing corruption that is the bane of Nigeria’s development.
According to the Anti-Corruption Network, on November 22, 2012, the House endorsed a motion sponsored by Mr. Odeneye Kehinde on the allegation of a multibillion Naira mansion allegedly belonging to Minister Orubebe at Mabushi in the Federal Capital Territory, which the Minister did not declare as is required by law.
The committees on Anti-Corruption, Drugs/Narcotics/Financial Crimes and Justice were directed to conduct the investigation within 21 days and produce a report.
Four months later, the matter seems to have been hushed up in the House.
Full text of the press statement/Background information:
PRESS STATEMENT
ORUBEBE: MELAYE GIVES REPS 14 DAYS ULTIMATU
...THREATENS LEGAL ACTION
In our avowed promise to fight corruption to a standstill in Nigeria, no amount of name calling, blackmail, intimidation, arrest and rearrest, lies and fallacy will detract our attention from championing this God-given assignment of exposing corruption that is the bane of our development.
We are surprised that despite all evidence and exposition of the corruption perpetrated by Diezani Alison Madueke and Godson Orubebe, Ministers if Petroleum Resources and Niger Delta Affairs respectively, it is a shame that these two and many more still sit comfortably every Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council Meetings under the watchful eyes of an unperturbed President Goodluck Jonathan.
We recall that the House of Representatives over four monthsago, passed a resolution to investigate the corruption charges on Godson Orubebe. The House went further to set up a Committee to probe these corruption allegations against him. Surprisingly, the said Committees-Petroleum Downstream and Anti-Corruption in the House are yet to either sit or invite Orubebe.
We see this as a serious compromise against the spirit of that resolution as deposited in the vote and proceedings of the House. We are therefore calling on the House of Representatives and indeed, the Committees to, within 14 days invite Orubebeand other stakeholders in this matter or face a legal action from the Anti-Corruption Network.
We also use this opportunity to once again tell Mr. President that the continuous stay as Ministers of both Alison-Madauekeand Orubebe, is not only a disgrace to the government and people of Nigeria but also a confirmation that Mr. Presidentcondoles corruption.
Otunba Dino Melaye
Executive Secretary, Anti-Corruption Network
Abuja
NB:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO THE STATEMENT
The House of Representatives had on Nivember 29 2012 ordered an investigation into a “multi-billion naria” mansion said to belong to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr.Godsday Orubebe.
The property, located at Mabushi in the Federal Capital Territory, was said to have been built for the minister by a construction firm, SETRACO.
The House endorsed a motion sponsored by Mr. OdeneyeKehinde on the matter and resolved to probe the ownership of the property.
The committees on Anti-Corruption, Drugs/Narcotics/Financial Crimes and Justice were directed to conduct the investigation within 21 days and produce a report.
Kehinde noted that the property had been one of the issues dominating discussions lately in the country.
He said, “There is no evidence that the minister declared the house in his asset declaration with the Code of Conduct Bureau.”
He expressed surprise that neither the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission nor the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission had considered the issue important for investigation.
Part of the motion he presented before the House read, “It is saddening for me to have to come up with a motion of this nature to address a matter which ought to have been taken up by our anti-corruption agencies.
“This motion is brought against the backdrop of mounting disclosures of corrupt practices levelled against a sitting minister by some anti-corruption outfits in the country.
“A summary of the allegation runs thus:
The minister has paid for so many phantom projects.
“The minister is presently resident in a house at MabushiDistrict Abu]a built and handed over to him by SETRACO, a construction company that doubles as his crony.”
He added, “The minister’s failure to declare the said house in his asset declaration form with Code of Conduct Bureau, is a case of perjury if established.
“The minister’s financial escapades and liaisons are in Dubai and other corruption shelters overseas.
“These weighty allegations were at first peremptorily rubbished and dismissed by the minister as handiwork of his detractors and some mischief-makers who were out for extortion.
“Since then, he has unfortunately laboured hard using the media to fault these revelations.”
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