BY GODWIN ORITSE
THE Pensioners Welfare Association of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has condemned the way and manner members of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and other Nigerians celeberated the recently released Olabode George from prison for criminal offence and called on the Federal Government to bar him from holding any public office.

Reacting to the celebration that heralded the release of the former South West Chairman of PDP, President of the group Comrade Oweibena Attie, said that it was a show of shame for anybody to celebrate the release of a criminal. Attie stated that organising a reception for an ex-convict like BodeGeorge is way of telling the world that corruption is a way of life in Nigeria.

He noted that most of the funds stolen from NPA’s system were pensioners’ funds adding that Bode George should be made to refund the monies he stole from NP A therefore his bank accounts should be frozen and his properties confiscated. He noted those who organised the reception were people who are feeding fat from the loot he stole while he was Chairman of the Board of the authority.

“Bode George should be barred from playing active politics and banned from holding public office at any level
“This will serve as a deterrent to others who find themselves in public office who hopes to follow his foot step.

“This country is becoming too rotten, I challenge human right activists to take the battle and ensure that a man like Bode George is not appointed into any public office again.” he added. Bode George, who was sentenced to two-year jail term alongside five members of the Board of the NPA by Justice Joseph Oyewole, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on August 8, 2008 on a 163-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and award of about N1bn contracts without due process.

The arraignment followed an investigation by the EFCC under Malam Nuhu Ribadu. Bode George and the other suspects pleaded not guilty. However, on October 24, 2008, the EFCC reduced the charges to 68.

The convicts were said to have inflated NPA contract prices contrary to Section 22 (3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. In his judgment, Justice Joseph Oyewole held that the EFCC proved, beyond reasonable doubt, that George, a former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), abused his office.

He faulted the argument by the lawyers to the convicts – Mr. Joe Gadzama, Mr. Tunji Ayanlaja, and Mr. Dele Adesina – that individual actions and criminal liability for corporate conduct were not close