There are indications that, the imprisoned chief of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, will be set free on Saturday.He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, together with five others, by an Ikeja High Court on October 27, 2009, without an option of fine.

Mr. George, Aminu Dabo (former Managing Director of the NPA); Olusegun Abidoye; Abdullahi Tafida; Zanna Maidaribe and Sule Aliyu, were convicted on charges of abuse of office and award of about ₦100bn contracts without due process.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on August 8, 2008 arraigned George and the others on a 163-count charge-later reduced to 68– to which they all pleaded not guilty.

Spokesperson for Nigerian Prisons Service, Lagos Command, Ope Fatiniku, however said on Wednesday that no official pronouncement had been made over their release. ‘‘The prison authority has not pronounced any date of release for the PDP leader. It is against the ethics of the service to disclose a programme of release,” he said. According to him, the prison authority does not disclose the programme of the release of an inmate for security reasons. ‘‘The prison authority gives out information immediately an inmate is released, but not before the action is carried out,” he added.

The Deputy Controller of Prisons, Ailewon Noel, who is directly responsible for Mr. George and the other five convicts refused to comment. The relations and friends of Mr. George are eagerly awaiting his return home and are planning elaborate receptions meant “to shake Lagos”.
http://www.nigerianewstoday.com.ng/bode-george-freedom-saturday/