More than three years after serving a two-year jail term
in Kirikiri Maximum Prison for contract splitting, the Supreme Court in Abuja
on Friday reversed the conviction of the former Deputy National Chairman of the
PDP, Chief Olabode George.
in Kirikiri Maximum Prison for contract splitting, the Supreme Court in Abuja
on Friday reversed the conviction of the former Deputy National Chairman of the
PDP, Chief Olabode George.
The judges of the apex court, headed by Afolabi Fabiyi, in
their judgment, ruled that the charges of contract splitting, on which the EFCC
arraigned and secured the conviction of the politician, was unknown to law of
the land.
their judgment, ruled that the charges of contract splitting, on which the EFCC
arraigned and secured the conviction of the politician, was unknown to law of
the land.
This development came less than three days after former
President Olusegun Obasanjo and Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu
Tambuwal, accused President Goodluck Jonathan of encouraging corruption.
President Olusegun Obasanjo and Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu
Tambuwal, accused President Goodluck Jonathan of encouraging corruption.
The apex court ruled that the EFCC, which prosecuted George,
did not sufficiently prove that the defendant had an intention to commit fraud
at the Nigeria Port Authority.
did not sufficiently prove that the defendant had an intention to commit fraud
at the Nigeria Port Authority.
George and other board members of the NPA, where the
politician was the chairman, were convicted and sentenced to two years
imprisonment byJustice Oyewole of a Lagos High Court for contract splitting.
politician was the chairman, were convicted and sentenced to two years
imprisonment byJustice Oyewole of a Lagos High Court for contract splitting.
Source:
Punch
Punch
