An investigation has been ordered into a “multi-billion naria” mansion said to belong to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, by the House of Representatives because “There is no evidence that the minister declared the house in his asset declaration with the Code of Conduct Bureau.”
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. Odeneye Kehinde 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 expressed surprise that neither the EFCC nor the ICPC had considered the issue important for investigation.
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 Mabushi District Abu]a built and handed over to him by SETRACO, a construction company that doubles as his crony.”
“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.”
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 expressed surprise that neither the EFCC nor the ICPC had considered the issue important for investigation.
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 Mabushi District Abu]a built and handed over to him by SETRACO, a construction company that doubles as his crony.”
“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.”
It would be recalled that Dino Melaye and his group recently "exposed" the Minister with regards to contract deals and diversion of government funds.
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