Breaking news: Bode George gets two years.. That is not enough!

[SuperEgo]

The former Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) board Chairman and a Chieftain of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, was on Monday convicted by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos High Court.

Mr. Oyewole sentenced Mr. George and four other former board members of the NPA to two years each on a seven-count charge and another six months each on a 28-count charge.

Read a copy of the judgement here.

The seven-count charge included abuse of office, while the 28-count charge was on wilful disobedience to lawful authority.

Sentenced with Mr. George were former NPA Managing Director Aminu Dabo, Olusegun Abidoye, Abdullahi Aminu Tafida, Zanna Maidaribe and Sule Aliyu.

History of the case

The former South West deputy Chairman of the PDP was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2008 for contract inflation to the tune of N84 billion with five other board members, during his tenure as the Chairman of the NPA board between 2000 and 2003.

Giving evidence in court on January 22, 2009, a member of the committee set up to investigate the allegation of fraud leveled against the accused persons and a Chief Detective Superintendent in the EFCC, Bamanga Bello, said: "We found that there were irregularities in the award of contract by the Board of the NPA between 2001 and 2003.

"Contracts were split and inflated by the Board and advance payments above the 25 per cent limit approved by the government were made in the award of fifteen contracts," he said.

Mr. George and the other former board members first appeared before the state High Court on a 163-count charge on August 9, 2008.

According to the charges, they were alleged to have, among others, conspired about June 6, 2003 to inflate the contract price for the rehabilitation of Kalmar Container Handler from 215,555.52 Euro to 269,965.71 Euro.

They were also alleged to have inflated contract awarded to Dateks Ltd for the replacement and installation of six 11KVA High Tension Panels with accessories at Sub-station C, Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, from 310,500.40 Euro to 345,925.00 Euro.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5474123-146/story.csp

[SuperEgo]

Al-Mustapha welcomes Bode George

LAGOS — FORMER Chief Security officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, was one of the high-profile inmates of the Kirikiri Maximum-Security Prison who welcomed Chief Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the prison on his arrival, Monday, Vanguard can authoritatively reveal.

Vanguard also gathered that Chief George, who was sentenced to 28 years jail term by Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Lagos High Court, but to spend two-and-a-half years, has not eaten Prison food since Monday night, neither has he applied for food to be brought to him from his home.

Meantime, security at the Kirikiri prison was tightened yesterday as Chief George and five members of the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, which he chaired, spent their first day in the prison after being jailed, Monday.



Others jailed alongside George were former Managing Director of the NPA, Architect Aminu Dabo; Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Alhaji Zanna Maideribe and Alhai Sule Aliyu.

Reports say they were allocated beds in the ‘Important Personalities’ block of the prison yard.

But it could not be ascertained whether Chief George is sharing his cell with some of those convicted with him.

Vanguard, however, gathered that between two and three inmates are allowed to stay together in VIP cells.

According to the source, prison authorities do not allow a single person in a cell whether VIP or ordinary cell, for security reasons.

Besides, two of his personal assistants, counsel, family members, friends, relations and political associates who thronged the prison were not allowed to see him as fierce-looking prison warders restricted movement in and around the premises of the prison.

Vanguard investigation revealed that visitors are not allowed to see convicts on Tuesdays.

“There are specific days of visit for convicted persons and today (Tuesday) is not one of those visiting days”, said Mr. Ope Fatinikun, the Lagos Prisons Command’s Public Relations Officer.



Inside prison sources said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart was unusually calm as he was ushered into the Prison yard Monday to a rousing welcome by inmates.

The source said Chief George occasionally stared into space and shook his head in disbelief.

Al-Mustapha, who is standing trial for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late Chief M.K.O Abiola and attempted murder of the Publisher of The Guardian newspapers, Alex Ibru, before Justices M.O Dada and Mufutau Olokooba respectively, exchanged pleasantries with Chief George and they had a brief discussion during a free period.

Bode George shuns prison food

Vanguard was reliably told that Chief George had not eaten since his arrival at the prison Monday, even as he was not accorded a VIP treatment contrary to expectation.

It was not too clear whether he is on hunger strike but sources said he had not officially applied for food from home neither had he eaten prison’s food.

This was confirmed by Prison sources who said although he was not locked up with other ordinary criminals, he was not given preferential treatment.
Asked whether food was brought for him by his family or friends, the state command’s PRO, said he had not applied for food to be brought from outside.
According to him, “he has the right to apply for food but he has not done so since he arrived yesterday (Monday).”

According to Vanguard investigation, among those who attempted to see him yesterday were the immediate past Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA Dr Adegboyega Dosumu, some PDP Chieftains in Lagos and other prominent Nigerians who were said to have arrived the prison gate as early as 6:30am in exotic cars some with Federal Government licenced plates.

Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that final touches are being put to their appeal against their conviction as their lawyers were sighted on the prison’s premises believed to be part of efforts to get the convicts sign the notice of appeal drafted as well as the Motion for Appeal.

One of the lawyers who spoke with Vanguard on phone said, “we have concluded the typing of the process and ready for filing at the Registry. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet up by the time we got to the Registry of the High Court. Definitely, the process will be concluded first thing tomorrow (today),” he said

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/10/28/al-mustapha-welcomes-bode-george-to-kirikiri-prison/

[greatsea]

bode george merited maximum prism. many others will join suit. God is working it out for nigerian.