Apex Court dismisses FG’s appeal against Orubebe

The Apex Court has dismissed the Federal Government’s Appeal of Orubebe’s Acquittal on Code of Conduct Breach.

The Federal Government’s appeal against Godsday Orubebe, the former Minister of Niger-Delta, having his conviction overturned due to alleged violations of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers denied by the Apex Court.

An incompetent appeal by the Federal Government was declared by a five-member panel of the highest court.

The court determined that the appellant did not acquire prior permission from the court prior to submitting the appeal, which was based on a mixed law and fact theory, according to the lead opinion written by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba and read by Justice Emmanuel Agim.

The Federal Government filed an appeal against the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which overturned Orubebe’s conviction by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on October 4, 2016, for violating the public officer code of conduct.

Orubebe refuted the accusation, asserting that the property was sold prior to Orubebe’s ordination as a minister, negating the necessity for its disclosure.