6 November 2009
A lawyer, Mr. Abass Oyewale-Freeman, said, yesterday, that the court could grant Chief Olabode George and others convicted of corrupt practices bail pending the hearing of their appeal.
George, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s former Deputy National Chairman and erstwhile chairman of Nigeria Ports Authority and directors of the board were on October 26 convicted of contract splitting and disobedience of lawful orders.
They have since filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal and also applied for bail at the Ikeja High Court, which convicted them.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, Oyewale-Freeman said the convicted persons could enjoy a temporary reprieve until the bail and the appeal were heard.
He recalled that the convicted popular actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima, was granted bail pending her appeal.
NAN recalls that a Lagos Magistrate Court had, early this year, convicted Ibinabo of manslaughter.
"There are precedents to that effect. Bode George and others can secure bail on health grounds or other reasons acceptable to the court. Since they have appealed, they should be presumed innocent until the appeal is heard and determined," Oyewale-Freeman said.
Oyewale-Freeman, who conceded the discretion to grant bail to the judge, added: "The plaintiff(s) will suffer unnecessarily if the appeal was upheld.
He, however, hailed the judgment of the Ikeja High Court, saying: "It is a pointer to the fact that nobody is above the law."
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