9 November 2009
Efforts of the embattled former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA) Chief Olabode George and five others to secure a temporary relief from the judgement of an Ikeja High court that jailed them over the NPA scam hit the rock today as the same court refused their request for bail pending appeal.
Justice Joseph Oyewole who handed down the two and half years jail term on October 26 over offences of inflation of contract, disobedience of lawful order and abuse of office also refused their application for bail on the ground that they failed to convince the court beyond reasonable doubt that they deserve to be set free temporarily.
By implication, Chief Bode George who expected to turn 64 years on November 21, 2009, (twelve days away) may spent his next birthday at the prison custody.
Chief George, alongside Arc. Aminu Dabo, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Alhaji Abdullahi Aminu Tafida, Alhaji Zanna Maidaribe and Alhaji Sule Aliyu are currently serving two and half years jail terms in Kirikiri Maximum prison.
In the judgment of the trial court earlier, the court had sentenced them to 2 years each on 7 count-charge and 6 months each on another 28 count-charge. The sentences will however run concurrently which means he will spend only two and a half years in jail.
Others who were jailed alongside Chief Bode George include former Managing Director of the NPA, Architect Aminu Dabo, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Alhaji Abdulahi Aminu Tafida, Alhaji Zanna Maideribe and Alhaji Sule Aliyu.
The appeal processes filed at the registry of the Ikeja High Court, on October 28, by their counsel include notice of appeal and a motion asking the court to grant them temporary bail, pending the determination of the appeal.
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Congratulations..Nigerian Judiciary..the world watches with interest on your leadership with justice for all. We know that there is no peace in Nigeria unless Justice is transparent. Don't allow the Criminal Appeallant Lawyers to undermine the Judicial System; to defend the indefensible undermines the Judicial System and encourages the average citizen to take the law into his hand instead of obeying the law. Please be brave for the sake of all Black People in the world to make Africans Proud. We are all degraded when Nigeria allows the few unscrupulous citizens to undermine the diginity of all Black People. It is never too late to change. Nigeria will be rebranded when educated professional thieves are jailed to prevent future criminal minded citizens from abusing their opportunity to serve our country and mankind.
Simply put, Bode George is a big criminal. He connived with Mbadinuju to loot the treasury of Anambra State dry. Yes, Bode took undue advantage of Mbadinuju's desperation for a second tenure to loot ANS treasury. Or have you forgotten how Bode George conducted the PDP primaries in ANS in 2003? Bode George was confortable pocketing the money meant for the payment of salaries and pension is ANS and the criminal Mbadinuju was shameless singing his usual tune of zero allocation. The result was that salaries and pension were not paid for nine solid months and schools in ANS were under lock and key for nine whole months. The problem is that people like Bode George has no conscience, otherwise his conscience would have told him that he is a big rogue and ought to have been a VIP(Very Important Prisoner)long before now. The wicked like Bode George, be it Olusegun Obasanjo, IBB etc must never go unpunished. Iyke Anaebuo, a native of Ihembosi in ANS, writes from London.
WOW! you mean 28 years in jail?isnt that too much,as if they are criminals.as if they were not govt officials.welldone,afta all no body is above d law.thanks
@nsiks2009, Infact he should be gun down and properties be return to goverment since they were dubiously acquire.
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