Bode: Riot imminent in Kirikiri prison

…as Bode George refuses food, uniforms

By NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

NIGERIA may witness a repeat of what happened in the 1980s, when uproar burst in the nation's prisons over attempts to appease some politicians considered as “high-profile prisoners.” National Daily gathered that at the moment an uneasy calm seems to be pervading the Kirikiri Prison, where politician Bode George is spending his second week, since he was jailed by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, who also denied him bail, following the prosecuting counsel's plea that he needed time to file a motion against the application.

The tension is coming on the heels of chances that Bode George (who was convicted for various fraudulent activities he allegedly committed as the chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority) would be given the royal treatment at the detriment of several other inmates.

A source at the prison told National Daily that a few days ago palpable tension overwhelmed the entire prison premises when Bode George refused to wear prison uniforms, on account of his position in the society. The source said that other inmates expressed their emotions and were ready to make the jail house uninhabitable, should the prison officials try to mete out any form of preferential treatment to the People's Democratic Party chieftain.
“Other prisoners are still watching to see what will transpire at the end of the day. Do not forget that they are already sad over the poor state of things in the prison. They are ready to make the place uncomfortable for every one if the officials try to give any form of preferential treatment to Bode George.”

According to the source, George who was handed a set of uniforms after his bail application met a brick wall has refused to wear them.

“He has refused to wear the uniforms. He has not even tried them on. Perhaps he is counting on his clout, but the prison is a different ball game.: it is not NPA, “the source said.

Aside refusing to don his prison uniforms, George is also hesitant about eating prison food, which the source said is mostly beans and garri. On many occasions, he is said to have tarried without food, except on few occasions when his last wife, has brought food for him in the prison.

[b]National Daily gathered that what has made the situation very cringing is the fact that the several attempts being made by George's colleagues to get him out of the hook has been proving abortive. At the height of the imprisonment, sources disclosed to the paper that some prominent elders from the South West geo-political zone had paid the President, Umaru Yar'Adua a visit, and feelers are unanimous that it may not be unconnected with the possibility of letting the PDP chieftain have a soft-landing in the raging matter. Some of them were said to have argued in Aso Rock that keeping George in prison for two years may as well affect the prospects of the PDP in the upcoming general elections in 2011.

“They are arguing that with Bode George in prison, it will spell doom for the party in view of the threat by AC in the south west zone in 2011. The elders are also positing that the move may cost President Yar'Adua the votes of the southwest zone in the next elections. They also reminded the President how hard Bode George worked in ensuring his political victory in 2007, bearing in mind that he was the Director General of the Yar'Adua/Jonathan Campaign Organization then. Whether the President was swayed by the visit and suggestions would be determined by events that will unfold in the coming days,” the source hinted. [/b]
The PDP chieftain's road to jail has been spectacular so far. It started on October 29, 2008, and had an official of the EFCC, Mr. Muslim Hassan, as the prosecution counsel who later gave way for Mr. Festus Keyamo who conducted and concluded the trial.

The prosecution presented 10 witnesses to prove the allegations against the defendants, while George represented the defendants. Principally, the prosecution, through its witness, tried to establish that the defendants committed the alleged offences of inflation, splitting of contracts and disobedience to constituted authority. The prosecution closed its case on May 25, 2009, while the defendants opened theirs on same day and ended on June 24, 2009. In its written addresses filed at the Registry of the state High Court, the prosecution, however, argued that the defendants had no excuse permitted by law to disobey the order, and if they (defendants) plead any excuse, the burden of proof must rest on them.

According to the prosecution, the lack of knowledge of the 2001 directive of the Federal Government as mentioned in the ninth meeting of the Board, the complex nature of ports activities as claimed by the defendants and the improper procedure by which they were notified could not by any means avail them. Relying on Section 22 on issue of "ignorance of law," it stated "it does not afford any excuse for any act or omission which would otherwise constitute an offence, unless knowledge of the law by the offender is expressly declared to be an element of the offence."

Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, one of the major prosecution witnesses, Mustapha Bukar, a director in the Ministry of Transportation, who chaired the seven-man administrative panel instituted by the Federal Government to probe the activities of the NPA, said his "panel discovered that about 29,526 contracts were awarded by the management of the NPA between year 2001 and 2003."

In his evidence, the witness said that some of the contracts were split and inflated before they were awarded to different contractors by the NPA management. Bukar, an engineer, specifically, told the court that the board while awarding contracts did not abide by a certain circular from the Federal Government, which spelt out the limitation of the Board in doing so.

The witness said the price intelligence units system and due process were ignored by the management in the award of contracts in the years under review. However, under cross-examinations by the defence lawyers led by Chief Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN), Bukar admitted that one of the committee members, Greg Ogbueifon, had earlier written a petition against the NPA Board over some issues. He also agreed that it was morally wrong for the same Ogbueifon to be a member of the committee investigating the management of the NPA. Ayanlaja also noted that one of the Board members, Alhaji Kurawa, was not charged before the court. He submitted that the trial was an orchestrated one to nail the defendants.

As Bode George prays to be given preferential treatment in prison, Nigerians are eagerly awaiting to see how the appeal slated for November 9 will turn out, even as Prison authorities continue to deny moves to treat him like a king.

Didn't I say that sizable Yorba people are in support of him? Now who are these Yoruba elders?