Sam Madojemu, the Prosecution Witness in the ongoing trial of a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, on Thursday told the Code of Conduct Tribunal that Orubebe did not declare his Plot No. 2057 in Asokoro, Abuja.
Madojemu said during cross examination by Orubebe’s lawyer, Larry Selekowei (SAN), that document obtained from the FCT Land Registry indicated that three plots of land were allocated to Orubebe.
He said Plot 2057, Asokoro Cadastral Zone A04 was the subject matter of the charge, which the defendant failed to declare as at the time he left office as minister on April 10, 2011.
The witness said the other two plots declared by Orubebe are Plots 2460, Cadastral Zone A05 Maitama, Abuja and 1736, Cadastral Zone A09 Guzape District also in Abuja.
Madojemu also said the Right of Occupancy and the Certificate of Occupancy of both plots were signed by the defendant himself.
The witness said there was no place in the asset declaration form where Orubebe indicated that the said plot 2057 was given to him by the Federal Government free of charge.
Madojemu also testified during re-examination by Prosecution Counsel, Mohammed Diri, that he called the defendant on phone to invite him to clarify issues regarding Plot 2057.
He said Orubebe failed to honour the invitation.
Madojemu affirmed to the tribunal of the existence of Plot 2057, adding that the property belongs to the defendant.
He said the plot was allocated to the defendant on April 10, 2011.
After conducting the re-examination, the prosecution counsel asked for adjournment to enable him call his second witness, a request to which the defence counsel did not object.
The former Minister was arraigned by the Federal Government on a one-count charge bordering on allegation of failure to declare his asset at Plot 2057 in Asokoro, Abuja.
Orubebe had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, adjourned the matter to May 24 for cross examination of the second prosecution witness.