Why Bode George, others refused prison uniforms
Cover StoriesOct 31, 2009
By Emma NNADOZIE


Contrary to speculations that convicted Peoples Democratic Party Chieftain and former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Chief Bode George and five other members of the board of the authority may be moved out of the confines of the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in Apapa, Lagos, Prison sources disclose that there were no such moves.
It has also been revealed that the prison authorities are in no mood to force the PDP topshot to wear prison uniforms.
Consequently they would not adorn the popular blue and white prison uniforms made for convicts.
A source at the prison said that wearing prison uniform was at the discretion of the governor of the prison, and at the moment, the governor was not in the mood to flex his muscle.
Saturday Vanguard investigations revealed that the Chief Bode George and his colleagues had been confined to the V.I.P. section of the prison since they arrived Monday evening and have started eating meals prepared by their families.
It was gathered that there were no signs of molestation by other inmates of the dreaded prison yard as the new very important inmates were being accorded special treatment because of their former positions in the country.
A Prison source told Saturday Vanguard, “ We must recognise that these were men of means and power before they fell out with the laws of the land. The idea of not wearing the normal uniform is at the discretion of the Governor of the Prison. Ideally, they are all supposed to be clad in blue uniforms but the Governor had to use his discretion.
They are sharing the same block with Bamaiyi, Mustapha and other V.I.Ps and we are being careful not to over do things.
“What we are trying to contend with now is the large number of visitors that come to see them, These are not ordinary visitors. They are very highly placed men in the society but they always come in disguise. Even, one of them whom we suspected to be a Minister had to sneak in Thursday under the pretext of bringing food for him from home.
We all knew he was not an ordinary family member but there was nothing we could do under such circumstance. Who wants to loose his job”?, he quipped.
Prison sources also hinted that so far, their pastime is being occupied with prayers which they say at the worship centre built by former inmate of the prison Ade Bendel.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/10/31/why-bode-george-others-refused-prison-uniforms/

That is not the truth. The truth is, the taylor sew the cloth the wrong way!.

Oboma1:

That is not the truth. The truth is, the taylor sew the cloth the wrong way!.

No, I actually thought, the material wasnt expensive.

Oboma1:

That is not the truth. The truth is, the taylor sew the cloth the wrong way!.

No, I actually thought, the material wasnt expensive.  

if they can sew it in the form of an agbada im sure he will wear it,

Why is he carrying a desperate face!.

Prison Officers should use force, to force the Uniforms on him if he refused to wear it

WilyWily:

Prison Officers should use force, to force the Uniforms on him if he refused to wear it

How will the prison officers force him when they have already jubilated that another big meat has arrived. Soon, you will hear that Bode George has left his double bunk bed for a private room in the prison, where there is DSTV, airconditioner, daily newspapers, internet facility, and telephone connection. Infact, I wont be surprise if he receives female visitors over night. All these for stealing billions. May GOD help you, if you steal a common foul in Nigeria, and you are a poor man. Heaven knows, Police will never see your case file for years.

NIGERIA I HAIL THEE!. LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

Oboma1:

How will the prison officers force him when they have already jubilated that another big meat has arrived. Soon, you will hear that Bode George has left his double bunk bed for a private room in the prison, where there is DSTV, airconditioner, daily newspapers, internet facility, and telephone connection. Infact, I wont be surprise if he receives female visitors over night. All these for stealing billions. May GOD help you, if you steal a common foul in Nigeria, and you are a poor man. Heaven knows, Police will never see your case file for years.

NIGERIA I HAIL THEE!. LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

Obviously, Nigeria is a country where corruption is celebrated. I will not forget in a hurry, the day Bro. Alams was released. One thousand cars, formed a convoy that took the man to his village. He was so widely celebrated to the extent that, even internal media, were not left out. Children stood on the streets, waving the great hero. That is the level of decay.

Bode George loses bail bid, gets prison uniform
HeadlinesNov 10, 2009
By Abdulwahab Abdulah, Gbenga Akanmu & Ifeanyi Okolie


LAGOS — EFFORTS of the embattled former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Chief Bode George, and five others, to secure bail from an Ikeja High court that jailed them over the NPA contracts scam, hit the rocks yesterday as the same court refused their request.
Meantime, authorities of the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, yeaterday, handed Chief George his official blue uniform mandatory for all convicts in the prison.

Bode George' s bail application hits the rocks
Justice Joseph Oyewole who handed down the two-and-half year jail term on the six accused, on October 26, over offences bordering on 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 deserved to be set free temporarily.
By implication, Chief George, who turns 64 years on November 21, may spend his next birthday in prison.
Also, the Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, condemned the alleged threat to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, by those believed to be associates of the jailed former National Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Others convicted alongside Chief George are Alhaji Aminu Dabo, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Alhaji Abdullahi Aminu Tafida, Alhaji Zanna Maidaribe and Alhaji Sule Aliyu.

From left; Chief Olabode George, Alhaji Aminu Dabo, former managing director, NPA; Captain Olusegun Abidoye and Alhaji Abdulahi Aminu Tafida
For more than four hours in court yesterday, seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria, led by Chief Tunji Ayanlaja and a former Attorney-General of Nigeria, Chief Kanu Agabi, representing Chief George failed to convince the court why their client and the co-applicants should be admitted to bail pending when the Court of Appeal will hear their brief asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the trial court.
They hinged their arguments on two major points — that their clients are not medically fit to stay in prison and that it would be prejudiced on the judgment of the appellate court if it turned down the judgment of the trial court.
The senior lawyers argued in line with their Motion on Notice dated October 28, 2009 asking for accelerated hearing of the matter, “brought pursuant to Section 10 and 51 of the High Court of Lagos State Law 2003 and under the inherent jurisdiction of this honorable court”.
In their individual capacity, they argued that it will take the better part of the year to get the records of appeal in a matter of this magnitude compiled and transmitted to the court of appeal.
They added that going by the congestion at the appellate court, “by the time the appeal would have been determined by the Court of Appeal, the Applicants would have finished serving their terms of imprisonment, thus rendering their appeal, whatever the outcome nugatory.”
Also, they told the court that they need to be attended to by their private physicians, because of the fragile nature of their sickness. To this end, they prayed the court to grant them bail pending the determination of their appeal.
However, Counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in his response told the court that there was no justification for the court to release them on bail.
He argued that based on the applicants’ affidavits and the attached medical reports on their health, there was no strong facts for the court to release them. He said the medical reports attached to the application were from private medical doctors and from private hospitals which can not be relied upon by the court.
He noted that for the court to accept the medical reports, the reports have to be from a recognised government hospital.
He also argued that they (Applicants) failed to justify their position on the congestion of the Court of Appeal to listen to their appeal timeously, since they failed to attach copy of the ‘Cause list’ from the appellate court to justify their positions.
He therefore urged the court to reject the application for bail.
In his short ruling, Justice Oyewole held that “the applications failed and are consequently dismissed.”
The court said that the application failed because the applicants failed to submit sufficient materials to prove that they were suffering from illness.
“There must be sufficient evidence from a specialist in that particular field of medicine,” the court averred, “to grant bail on medical grounds.”
On the issue of delay in hearing the appeal at the appellate court, the trial judge said that “I will not comment on the likelihood of the duration of the appeal”.
The court however discountenanced the issue of preliminary objection by Keyamo on the competence of the motion for bail, based on alleged conflict in signature on affidavits by the counsel.
Justice Oyewole held that it amounted to technicalities and mere academic exercise which has no bearing in determining the merit or demerit of the case.
In his final words, the Judge said “I have considered the application for bail pending appeal and submissions of the counsels. The ruling shall encompass the entire lot because of the similarity in the applications (of the six counsel).”
George gets prison uniform
Although spokesman for the Prisons, Ope Fatinikun told Vanguard on phone that all prisoners in the state wear uniforms without specifically mentioning names, it was gathered that Chief George was handed his uniform yesterday after hopes of getting bail at the Ikeja High court were dashed.
Reliable prison sources told Vanguard that before now, prison officials at the maximum Prisons, Kirikiri deliberately accorded the convicted PDP stalwart the privileges of going about without the official uniform worn by all convicts. He was also said to be on a diet specially prepared from his home.
However, the table was said to have turned immediately news of the refusal of the Ikeja court to grant him bail got to Prison authorities.
It was learnt that when prison officials brought the neatly-ironed uniform to the PDP Chieftain, it was like double tragedy for him. An insider said Chief George quietly walked into his cell and did not show up again.
The Prison spokesman, Fatinikun said, “All I will tell you is that all prisoners in Lagos Command wear uniforms. I do not want to mention anybody’s name. You can go to the officer-in-charge of Kirikiri Prisons and see things for yourself”.
An insider source told Vanguard that Chief George refused to eat all through yesterday. The source said although the convict had been fasting since Saturday, but he normally broke his fast by 2:00pm after a round of prayers led by a renowned prophet who had assured him of victory in his bail bid.
The source said he was moody all through the day after getting the news of the judgment and was consoled by Major Hamza el-Mustapha
Lagos lawmakers condemn alleged threat
On their part, lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly have condemned the alleged threat on the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, by those believed to be associates of the jailed Chief Bode George.
The House also warned the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to steer clear of the Lagos State Action Congress, AC, the party leaders and in particular, erstwhile governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
A member of the House, Sanai Agunbiade from Ikorodu (State) Constituency I, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance called his colleagues’ attention to a newspaper report where it was reported that Bode George’s followers are allegedly threatening the EFCC Chairman.
Agunbiade explained thathe decided to raise the matter because there had been much noise ever since Bode George was convicted and jailed. According to him, “EFCC had in the past indicted, arraigned and convicted other people and there was no noise, but the issue of George seems to have a difference.
“The Lagos AC, party leaders, especially Asiwaju Bola Tinubu have been accused of being responsible of what has happened to Bode George. I think it is worthwhile for us, as a House, to condemn the threat on the EFCC Chairman. In addition, we should call on Nigerians to advise family and friends of George to accept what has happened in good faith,” Agunbiade said.
Other members that contributed alleged that some troublemakers in the PDP are after Lagos AC and Tinubu. They claimed that Bode George’s followers have vowed to retaliate and that they are after Lagos State Action Congress and the party leaders.
Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji on his part said, “I don’t know what Tinubu has done to them and I am sure that it’s not the President himself that is behind this, but some of them in the system are the ones trying to create problem for Lagos.
“But these set of people should be warned not to tamper with Lagos and they should steer clear of the state and leave our party leaders, especially Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, alone”, Ikuforiji added.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/11/10/bode-george-loses-bail-bid-gets-prison-uniform/

You better start getting at home, at your near place of abode!

The man should be wearing sack cloth as a sign of penitence. All this gra gra will

come to pass. The man is yet to realise that this is for real. Is Kirikiri the only

prison in Nigeria?



This is the beginning of the end for PDP. I just pray they make moves to get him

out. You can see they are confused. That is when the come will come to become

to quote the late KO. With more impending judgments, others will join Bode.

citizenY:

The man should be wearing sack cloth as a sign of penitence. All this gra gra will

come to pass. The man is yet to realise that this is for real. Is Kirikiri the only

prison in Nigeria?



This is the beginning of the end for PDP. I just pray they make moves to get him

out. You can see they are confused. That is when the come will come to become

to quote the late KO. With more impending judgments, others will join Bode.

Obviously, many will join Bode, that is why there is panic in PDP to bring him out. The other day, a high powered PDP team went to visit him in Kirikiri. They should take him to Maiduguri. I guess Lagos is too close to them.