Lagos — The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) yesterday claimed its report on abuse of due process by the former chairman of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Olabode George, nailed the former National Deputy Chairman (South) of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It then warned that more civil servants are at risk of going to jail for violating the Public Procurement Act, otherwise known as "due process".

George and five others were Monday convicted by an Ikeja High Court under Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole for contract splitting, abuse of office and disobedience to lawful order.

The five others convicted along with him are former NPA Managing Director, Mr. Aminu Dabo, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Alhaji Abdullahi Aminu Tafida, Alhaji Zanna Maidaribe and Alhaji Sule Aliyu.

George and other accused persons were arraigned last year by the EFCC on a 68-count charge bordering on N85 billion fraud at the NPA. The court sentenced them to 30 months imprisonment without option of fine.

Speaking yesterday, the Director-General of BPP, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said apart from preparing the NPA report, the BPP, otherwise called Due Process Office, also acted as a star witness in the landmark suit which is one of the very few cases of conviction of a high-profile politician in a democratic setting.

Confirming that George was actually involved in contract splitting - an act that violates the Public Procurement Act - he explained that after preparing the report against him, the bureau subsequently recommended him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.

Ezeh, who vowed that more people risk going to jail if found culpable of violating the Public Procurement Act, lamented that accountants remained a "stumbling block" in the implementation of budget and the Act.

According to him, "when a job has been done, instead of the accountants, auditors or the payment officer to pay the contractors, they usually look for one reason or the other to delay the payment until the contractor goes to see them."

Ezeh, who said the Public Procurement Act 2007 stipulated that contractors must be paid their money not later than 60 days after completion of the projects, noted that a violation of this provision of the Act will attract five years jail term and fines.

Reactions continued to trail the landmark case yesterday as the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) hailed the judiciary for the conviction of George for sundry crimes among which were contract splitting, abuse of office and disobedience to lawful order.

The party, however, said the 30-month sentence was "too small".

The ANPP described the court verdict as "a great victory" for democracy but said it was "too small" given the magnitude of the crime.

A press statement signed by Emma Eneukwu, national publicity secretary of the party, welcomed the verdict, saying it was a major breakthrough which it hoped would precipitate the exposition of similar white-collar crimes perpetrated by big-time politicians who held public office.

"This is a great victory for our country and a great victory to our democracy, as we are gradually liberating ourselves from the strangulation by the authoritarian government led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the past 10 years," the party said.

It also described the independence and freedom of the judiciary as determinants of a vibrant democracy.

The Conference of All Political Parties (CNPP) described the verdict as a master stroke, saying it had rejuvenated the comatose war on corruption .

A statement by CNPP spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, also commended Justice Oyewole and hailed the judiciary for the judgment.

Said the statement: "It is our considered view that the judgment served the cause of justice and most importantly the anti-graft war, which is almost dead. We agree in totality with Justice Oyewole that when public office is abused, the entire populace is assaulted. This must not be condoned or treated with kid gloves. If the quality of service in our public life is altered to the appreciable standard of the civilized world, the right of deterrent should be given. For the right of deterrent to be served, therefore, sufficient firmness must be demonstrated."

But the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, said it is the court that has the final answer in the search for justice and equity in Nigeria.

Reacting to the George verdict, Baraje said that the last had not been heard of the case and chided Nigerians, especially opponents of the ruling party, for celebrating the case, noting that there was always jubilation whenever judgments were against PDP and criticisms when the party wins any case in court.

Baraje, who is the chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), spoke to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos yesterday.

"In any case, concerning the court's judgment (of Olabode George's case) the final is yet to be heard. That is not the final thing to come. When judgments are against the PDP, everybody jumps and says halleluiah. But when judgment is in favour of the PDP everybody's head is down. But the PDP will continue to be the winning party and the party for the people," he said.