FG to amend charges against Orubebe
(Nigeria) The Federal Government on Thursday asked for
permission of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to amend charges against former
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe.
Orubebe is standing trial before the tribunal on charges of
false declaration of assets and collection of bribe on awarded contract.
At the resumed hearing of the trial, prosecution counsel, Mr
Peter Danladi, orally applied for the amendment of the earlier charges against
the defendant.
He relied on section 216 of the Administration of Criminal
Justice Act, 2015 to back his request for amendment of the charges.
``The section states that a court may permit an alteration
or amendment to a charge or framing of a new charge at a time before judgment
is pronounced,” he said
The defense counsel, Mr Selekeowei Larry (SAN), however,
objected to the prayer of the prosecution.
Larry argued that a request for amendment of charges has to
come by way of written motion and not oral application as made by the
prosecution.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, ruled that
the request must be made formally to enable the Defense the opportunity to
respond to the application.
The tribunal adjourned to January 27, for continuation of trial.
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