Bode George: NJC come to Nigeria’s rescue

Bode George: NJC come to Nigeria’s rescue

The mass media, no doubt hold the ace in showcasing to the reading public the efforts at fighting financial crimes which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has spearheaded in the last six years. These efforts came to the fore with the conviction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) top chieftain, Chief Olabode George who was jailed on the 26th October 2009, by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos High Court alongside six others over contract splitting when he was the chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).


Bode George on the same day, asked the court for a post conviction bail; he had said he was needing the bail on medical ground pending the determination of his appeals which he believes will sail through at the court of appeal. This request was reject by the Justice Oyewole on insuffient ground. George appealed against the judgment of the High court.


But what is most disturbing is: why would some top officials of President Yar’Adua’s government who claim to be in office are conniving with Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division to get Bode George out of prison.


Earlier before the conviction, it was reported that his friends and some elders from the PDP called Justice Oyewole to help in manipulating the case by bending the rules so George could go free; but the able Oyewole pretended as if going along with the deal only to turn against them and convict the criminal.


An appeal usually takes up to three to six months before hearing of bail application in court but because of the corrupted leaders we have in both the judicial system, ministers and governors of PDP, the Bode Goerge’s appeal has been fixed for November 19th, 2009, Besides, the same judge, Rhodes, who is alleged to have attempted manipulating the case albinitio, is said to be one of the judges to sit for the case


No wonder, the EFCC which has been trying so hard to ensure we have a clean corrupt free nation is heading to the Chief Justice of the Nigeria and National Judicial Council (NJC) to look into the scandal, and not allow the judicial process to be manipulated.

Subsection 21 (b) Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution empowers the NJC to "recommend to the President the removal from office of judicial officers and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers." Please NJC do something to deodorize this seemingly messing sector.


Zainab Zubairu


Nasarawa

(Copied From: www.huhuonline.com)