Godsday orubebe, Former Niger Delta Affairs Minister has been quizzed by the ICPC in connection with an ongoing investigation of an alleged N605million fraud in the ministry.

The cash was withdrawn from the Constituency Project account of the ministry by five officials without authorisation while Orubebe was in charge.    

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed charges against the five. They are: Yusuf Agabi (Director of Finance and Account), Akpore Okeroghene (Deputy Director of Finance), Abibu Ayinla (Director of Finance), Idowu Adewale (Deputy Director, Accounts) and Ngozi James (Deputy Director, Accounts).

The suspects “fraudulently withdrew N605 million from the Constituency Project account of the ministry without authorisation” between July 2013 and October 2014, Chief Legal Officer of the ICPC, Paul Ahmed, says.

They were alleged to have made fictitious claims through payment vouchers to cover up the alleged fraud.

Although Justice Husseini Baba of the FCT High Court fixed September 16 for the arraignment of the suspects, the ICPC intensified its investigation by inviting Orubebe.

According to the fact-sheet obtained from the commission, Orubebe spent about two and a half hours on Monday with a team of investigators.

It's still clear if Orubebe was in any way connected with the alleged fraud or he is being prepared as a witness.

Source: THE NATION