By Samuel Malik

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of an Abuja High Court has adjourned the corruption trial of former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, to September 7 because the former minister, who is reportedly on admission in hospital, could not be present in court.

Orubebe is being tried by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, alongside three others for allegedly diverting N2 billion meant for the dualisation of Section IV of the East-West Road.

The others are Oludare Lawrence Alaba, Ephraim Tewolde Zeri and Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nigeria Limited.

The suspects were supposed to be arraigned on August 18 but the case was adjourned after the court heard that they had not been served with the charge.

ICPC prosecution lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, asked the court for time to serve the defendants with the charge, a request that was granted and the case adjourned to August 30.

When the case came up today, the court was told that Orubebe was sick and hospitalised and could not be present, leading to the case being adjourned to September 7.

The former minister is accused of diverting N2,320,686,826 meant for the compensation of property owners affected by the dualisation of the road. But rather than pay the beneficiaries, the money was said to be have paid to Gitto.

He is also accused of lying to the ICPC when he claimed to have left office before a decision was taken to rehabilitate the road rather than dualise it.