Political parties, rights group okay Bode George's conviction

Reactions have continued to pour in over Monday’s sentencing of Olabode George, former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

Mr. George, along with five other members of the 2001/2003 Ports Authority Board was convicted on a 47-count charge, including disobedience to lawful order and abuse of office by splitting contracts.

Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos High Court gave no option of a fine and said the jail terms would run concurrently, amounting to two years’ imprisonment for Mr. George and the others.

In separate statements made available to NEXT yesterday, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Transition Monitoring Group, a coalition of civil organisations, expressed satisfaction with the judgement.

The document signed by spokesperson Osita Okechukwu stated that the CNPP was of the view that “the judgment served the cause of justice and most importantly the anti-graft war, which is almost dead.”

The organisation took issue with the reactions of the People Democratic Party (PDP), which Mr. George has served as chieftain.

“We condemn the statement made by the PDP Vice Chairman South West, Tajudeen Oladipo to the effect that the judiciary is selectively targeting PDP members; we view that as intemperate and uncouth; for he cannot deny that some of the loot were used to fund the PDP,” the statement read.

Mashood Erubami and Musa Rafsanjani of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), said it was commendable “that the judiciary has risen to its responsibility to hold accountable criminals who have resolved to hold Nigeria down and hostage in her strives to advance the cause of development.”

Corruption as cankerworm

Both organisations also appealed to other judges to hasten the war against corruption.

The collective of political parties said this was necessary as “corruption (is) responsible for those who died because of bad roads; those who died because of lack of electricity; gross unemployment and general decadence in the system, in the midst of unprecedented oil windfall.”

The Transition Monitoring Group argued that the judgment of the High Court had “laid a solid foundation to be built on by the other judges handling corruption cases to be brave,” as their verdicts were capable of creating a “sustainable environment for consensus politics, economic growth and efficient federal government at the centre.”