Bode George
Encyclopedia
Olabode Ibiyinka George ("Bode George") is a Nigeria
n politician who became Military Governor of Ondo State
, and later Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority
, then national vice-chairman in the southwest zone of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In October 2009 he was sentenced to a 30 month jail term for charges that included contracts splitting and inflation.
. He earned a B.Sc and MBA.
Bode George became a Commodore in the Nigerian navy, and was appointed Military Governor of Ondo State
(1988–1990).
The African Concorde magazine reported that George treated the state budget as his own, spending lavishly and handing out inflated contracts in return for large kick-backs.
In a July 2002 interview, Lagos State
Governor Bola Tinubu
said Bode George needed to face a criminal tribunal over his activity in Ondo state. He said "Bode George and his fellow travellers who believe in military arbitrariness have to be told in clear terms that their time has passed, we are under democracy now."
In response the PDP party Chairman, Alhaji Muhammed Muritala Ashorobi, said Bode George had an outstanding record as governor of old Ondo State, and the structures he built were key monuments.
He established the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic
, Owo
by edict in 1990, a school that now has over 4,000 students.
While governor, he was attacked at a ceremony in the University of Lagos
(UNILAG), of which he is an alumnus.
He became Principal Staff Officer, to General Oladipo Diya
when the latter was Chief of General Staff, between 1993 and 1997.
George was also a Director at the Nigerian National War College (NWC).
in 1999.
In February 2001, while visiting the Delta ports, Bode George called for increased security, and also discussed the problem of delays in payment of large sums of money owed to the port authority by organizations such as the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, Nigerian National Shipping Line
, Delta Steel Company and Central Water Transport Company.
In April 2001, George said that one of the causes of port congestion that importers were slow to clear their goods because of fear of seizure.
In May 2001, Bode George called for construction of new dry ports and warehouses to tackle congestion.
In September 2001, Chief Bode George directed that all empty containers should be moved out of the Lagos seaports to free up space.
In July 2002, he appealed to Truck Owners striking over clearance of goods at the Lagos ports to go back to work.
In March 2003, George commended the Grimaldi Group
for investing in Nigeria, and said the NPA would solve the shortage of berths for ships at the RORO port by expansion when the present government gained power in April.
In August 2003, talking of plans to privatize port operations, Bode George said "The illusion that the NPA is a buoyant and bottomless source of funds, which has encouraged a culture of carefreeness in the handling of contracts and materials, the unwarranted external influences to procure materials and equipment that are not required for our operations needs, lack of proper stock taking and modern store management procedures, the poor maintenance and management of our assets, all these must give way to harsh realities of our new role."
In October 2003, the senior management and the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority was dismissed.
The new managing drector, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, hired auditors to review major existing contracts. Their review found irregularities. It was passed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
under Nuhu Ribadu
, which started investigations in 2005.
In 2001, George was made the PDP's national vice-chairman in the southwest zone. Later he became PDP Deputy National Chairman, South, and then the National Deputy Chairman of the PDP.
At a March 2001 rally, George appeared to back Chief Funsho Williams
, the runner-up in 1998 Lagos State governorship primaries of the Alliance for Democracy
(AD) party, as the PDP candidate for the 2003 governorship election.
Williams later decamped to the PDP.
In February 2002, in response to allegations that the PDP was imposing levies on prospective aspirants for political offices, Bode George said the party had never given such a directive, and anyone caught doing do would be arrested and handed over to the Police.
In August 2002, Nick Mbaezue, the leader of Anambra People's Forum (APF) arm of the Anambra State
chapter of People's Democratic Party (PDP) accused Bode George of auctioning the PDP executive to the governor's faction.
In January 2003, Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun, the founding chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, and other leaders, petitioned the National Chairman over a crisis in the party. They accused George and his client Alhaji Murtala Ashorobi of favoritism.
In April 2004, George denied any involvement in the reported detention of Governor Bola Tinubu
of Lagos State and two other former governors.
The three were attending a funeral in Iyin-Ekiti when they were detained by soldiers and policemen.
In June 2004, a splinter group of the PDP accused Bode George, south-west chairman of the party, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe
, and Mohammed Ashorobi, the PDP state chairman of breaking up the party through of intimidation
, blackmail
, discrimination
and abuse of power
.
In July 2004, there was a crisis in Anambra State
where the house of assembly first stated that the governor Chris Ngige
had resigned and the deputy governor, Okey Udeh should take his place, then reversed their decision saying they had been deliberately misled. Bode George headed a PDP panel that recommended that Okey Udeh resign.
In January 2005, This Day reported that Bode George was expected to be named National Chairman of the PDP at the party's national convention in November.
In July 2005, he was promoted to PDP Deputy National Chairman (South).
In February 2007, Olabode George called for the resignation of Vice President Atiku Abubakar
, who had defected to the Action Congress
(AC) party.
In March 2008, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor dismissed Bode George from the Governing Board of the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI).
In April 2008, the PDP National Disciplinary Committee (NDC), which Bode George headed, was dismantled.
He was indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) when it was headed by Nuhu Ribadu
on charges of fraud at the NPA. However, he was widely rumoured to have been shielded from prosecution by president Olusegun Obasanjo.
The EFCC report issued on 1 April 2005 stated that NPA board members, including Chairman Bode George, and the management of the NPA should be held responsible for deliberate and flagrant violations of government rules and regulations governing the award of contracts, and should be sanctioned for contract splitting and inflation of contract price in utter disregard to laid-down government rules and regulations.
President Obasanjo dismissed the findings as inconclusive, and ordered another investigation. The second EFCC report cleared Bode George.
In November 2005, the EFCC invited Bode George to a meeting to discuss a party issue where his name had come up.
In March 2006, the Alliance for Democracy
(AD) called on President Olusegun Obasanjo to prosecute the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, and the board and management of the NPA over allegations of frivolous award of contracts worth N60 million.
In August 2008, the EFCC under its new head Farida Waziri arrested Olabode George in Lagos and arraigned him and four others on a 163 count-charge of conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, abuse of office and alleged illegal award of contracts worth N84 billion while he was chairman of the NPA.
After the trial had started, the EFCC reduced the charge to 63 counts.
In October 2009, Bode George was found guilty and sentenced to jail for 30 months.
The sentence was handed out by Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole.
The judge found the defendants guilty on 47 out of the 68 counts. The total sentences added up to 28 years, but the counts for disobedience to lawful order were ruled to run concurrently for six months, and the counts for contract inflation then to run concurrently for two years.
His lawyers filed an appeal and requested bail pending resolution of the appeal.
The appeal was however refused by the court.
As a prisoner, Chief Bode George and his colleagues were placed in the V.I.P. section of the prison. They were not required to wear prison uniforms, and were allowed to have meals prepared by their families.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n politician who became Military Governor of Ondo State
Ondo State
Ondo State, Nigeria was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.-Government and society:...
, and later Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority
Nigerian Ports Authority
The Nigerian Ports Authority is a federal government agency that governs and operates the ports of Nigeria. The major ports controlled by the NPA include: the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port in Lagos; Calabar Port, Delta Port, Rivers Port at Port Harcourt, and Onne Port...
, then national vice-chairman in the southwest zone of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In October 2009 he was sentenced to a 30 month jail term for charges that included contracts splitting and inflation.
Early years
George was born on November 21, 1945 in LagosLagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
. He earned a B.Sc and MBA.
Bode George became a Commodore in the Nigerian navy, and was appointed Military Governor of Ondo State
Ondo State
Ondo State, Nigeria was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.-Government and society:...
(1988–1990).
The African Concorde magazine reported that George treated the state budget as his own, spending lavishly and handing out inflated contracts in return for large kick-backs.
In a July 2002 interview, Lagos State
Lagos State
Lagos State is an administrative division of Nigeria, located in the southwestern part of the country. The smallest in area of Nigeria's states, Lagos State is the most populous state in Nigeria and arguably the most economically important state of the country and west Africa, containing Lagos, the...
Governor Bola Tinubu
Bola Tinubu
Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected Senator for the Lagos West constituency in Lagos State, Nigeria in 1993, just before a military take-over in December 1993. After the return to democracy, he was elected governor of Lagos State, holding office from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007...
said Bode George needed to face a criminal tribunal over his activity in Ondo state. He said "Bode George and his fellow travellers who believe in military arbitrariness have to be told in clear terms that their time has passed, we are under democracy now."
In response the PDP party Chairman, Alhaji Muhammed Muritala Ashorobi, said Bode George had an outstanding record as governor of old Ondo State, and the structures he built were key monuments.
He established the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic is a tertiary learning institution in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. The National Board for Technical Education has approved it as a state-owned polytechnic.It is also accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria....
, Owo
Owo
Owo is a town in the Ondo state of Nigeria. Between the years 1400 and 1600 AD it was the capital of a Yoruba city-state.-Etymology:According to Owo historian Chief Ashara, the name Owo derives from the first ruler, or Olowo, named Ojugbelu...
by edict in 1990, a school that now has over 4,000 students.
While governor, he was attacked at a ceremony in the University of Lagos
University of Lagos
The University of Lagos - popularly known as Unilag - is a federal government university with a main campus located at Akoka, Yaba and a college of medicine located at Idi-Araba, all in Lagos, Lagos State, southern Nigeria...
(UNILAG), of which he is an alumnus.
He became Principal Staff Officer, to General Oladipo Diya
Oladipo Diya
Donaldson Oladipo Diya is a retired Lt. General in the Nigerian Army.He was appointed Military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985....
when the latter was Chief of General Staff, between 1993 and 1997.
George was also a Director at the Nigerian National War College (NWC).
Ports Authority chairman
George was appointed Chairman of the Nigerian Ports AuthorityNigerian Ports Authority
The Nigerian Ports Authority is a federal government agency that governs and operates the ports of Nigeria. The major ports controlled by the NPA include: the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port in Lagos; Calabar Port, Delta Port, Rivers Port at Port Harcourt, and Onne Port...
in 1999.
In February 2001, while visiting the Delta ports, Bode George called for increased security, and also discussed the problem of delays in payment of large sums of money owed to the port authority by organizations such as the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, Nigerian National Shipping Line
Nigerian National Shipping Line
The Nigerian National Shipping Line was established by the Nigerian government in 1959.Despite heavy investment and subsidies, the state-owned company was unable to compete with European lines....
, Delta Steel Company and Central Water Transport Company.
In April 2001, George said that one of the causes of port congestion that importers were slow to clear their goods because of fear of seizure.
In May 2001, Bode George called for construction of new dry ports and warehouses to tackle congestion.
In September 2001, Chief Bode George directed that all empty containers should be moved out of the Lagos seaports to free up space.
In July 2002, he appealed to Truck Owners striking over clearance of goods at the Lagos ports to go back to work.
In March 2003, George commended the Grimaldi Group
Grimaldi Group
The Grimaldi Group is a private shipping company owned by Guido Grimaldi and based in Livorno, Italy. Grimaldi operates a large fleet of ro-ro vessels.- Shipping :...
for investing in Nigeria, and said the NPA would solve the shortage of berths for ships at the RORO port by expansion when the present government gained power in April.
In August 2003, talking of plans to privatize port operations, Bode George said "The illusion that the NPA is a buoyant and bottomless source of funds, which has encouraged a culture of carefreeness in the handling of contracts and materials, the unwarranted external influences to procure materials and equipment that are not required for our operations needs, lack of proper stock taking and modern store management procedures, the poor maintenance and management of our assets, all these must give way to harsh realities of our new role."
In October 2003, the senior management and the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority was dismissed.
The new managing drector, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, hired auditors to review major existing contracts. Their review found irregularities. It was passed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering...
under Nuhu Ribadu
Nuhu Ribadu
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a former Nigerian government anti-corruption official. He was the pioneer Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud...
, which started investigations in 2005.
PDP positions
George was close to president Olusegun Obasanjo, and was given preference in the sale of houses in Lagos state.In 2001, George was made the PDP's national vice-chairman in the southwest zone. Later he became PDP Deputy National Chairman, South, and then the National Deputy Chairman of the PDP.
At a March 2001 rally, George appeared to back Chief Funsho Williams
Funsho Williams
Funsho Williams was a Nigerian civil servant and politician.-Early life:Born Anthony Olufunsho Williams in Lagos, he attended the St. Paul's Catholic school at Ebute Metta and later St. Gregory's college, Lagos. In 1968 he started at the University of Lagos, attaining a degree in civil engineering...
, the runner-up in 1998 Lagos State governorship primaries of the Alliance for Democracy
Alliance for Democracy (Nigeria)
The Alliance for Democracy was a progressive opposition political party in Nigeria. It was formed on September 9th 1998. At the 2003 legislative elections, 12 April 2003, the party won 8.8 % of the popular vote and 34 out of 360 seats in the Nigerian House of Representatives and six out of...
(AD) party, as the PDP candidate for the 2003 governorship election.
Williams later decamped to the PDP.
In February 2002, in response to allegations that the PDP was imposing levies on prospective aspirants for political offices, Bode George said the party had never given such a directive, and anyone caught doing do would be arrested and handed over to the Police.
In August 2002, Nick Mbaezue, the leader of Anambra People's Forum (APF) arm of the Anambra State
Anambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...
chapter of People's Democratic Party (PDP) accused Bode George of auctioning the PDP executive to the governor's faction.
In January 2003, Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun, the founding chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, and other leaders, petitioned the National Chairman over a crisis in the party. They accused George and his client Alhaji Murtala Ashorobi of favoritism.
In April 2004, George denied any involvement in the reported detention of Governor Bola Tinubu
Bola Tinubu
Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected Senator for the Lagos West constituency in Lagos State, Nigeria in 1993, just before a military take-over in December 1993. After the return to democracy, he was elected governor of Lagos State, holding office from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007...
of Lagos State and two other former governors.
The three were attending a funeral in Iyin-Ekiti when they were detained by soldiers and policemen.
In June 2004, a splinter group of the PDP accused Bode George, south-west chairman of the party, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe
Adeseye Ogunlewe
Kingsley Adeseye Ogunlewe, alias Omoba, is a Nigerian nobleman and politician who was elected a national Senator on the Alliance for Democracy platform 1999 for the Lagos East constituency, before he defected to the PDP...
, and Mohammed Ashorobi, the PDP state chairman of breaking up the party through of intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
, blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
, discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
and abuse of power
Abuse of Power
Abuse of Power is a novel written by radio talk show host Michael Savage.- Plot :Jack Hatfield is a hardened former war correspondent who rose to national prominence for his insightful, provocative commentary...
.
In July 2004, there was a crisis in Anambra State
Anambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...
where the house of assembly first stated that the governor Chris Ngige
Chris Ngige
Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige was governor of Anambra State in Nigeria from 29 May 2003 to 17 March 2006. He is a member of the Action Congresss .He was elected Senator for Anambra Central in April 2011.-Background:...
had resigned and the deputy governor, Okey Udeh should take his place, then reversed their decision saying they had been deliberately misled. Bode George headed a PDP panel that recommended that Okey Udeh resign.
In January 2005, This Day reported that Bode George was expected to be named National Chairman of the PDP at the party's national convention in November.
In July 2005, he was promoted to PDP Deputy National Chairman (South).
In February 2007, Olabode George called for the resignation of Vice President Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, alias Turakin Adamawa, GCON was the Vice-President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He is a Muslim native of Adamawa State, and was an influential member of the ruling People's Democratic Party until 2006 when he switched affiliation to the Action Congress party...
, who had defected to the Action Congress
Action Congress
The Action Congress of Nigeria , formerly known as Action Congress , is a classical liberal Nigerian political party formed via the merger of the Alliance for Democracy, the Justice Party, the Advance Congress of Democrats, and several other minor political parties in September 2006. The party...
(AC) party.
In March 2008, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor dismissed Bode George from the Governing Board of the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI).
In April 2008, the PDP National Disciplinary Committee (NDC), which Bode George headed, was dismantled.
EFCC prosecutions
In April 2005, Olabode George threatened court action over a newspaper allegation that an N85 billion scam was uncovered in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) while he was chairman of the NPA board. He described the allegation as senseless, baseless and thoughtless.He was indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering...
(EFCC) when it was headed by Nuhu Ribadu
Nuhu Ribadu
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a former Nigerian government anti-corruption official. He was the pioneer Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud...
on charges of fraud at the NPA. However, he was widely rumoured to have been shielded from prosecution by president Olusegun Obasanjo.
The EFCC report issued on 1 April 2005 stated that NPA board members, including Chairman Bode George, and the management of the NPA should be held responsible for deliberate and flagrant violations of government rules and regulations governing the award of contracts, and should be sanctioned for contract splitting and inflation of contract price in utter disregard to laid-down government rules and regulations.
President Obasanjo dismissed the findings as inconclusive, and ordered another investigation. The second EFCC report cleared Bode George.
In November 2005, the EFCC invited Bode George to a meeting to discuss a party issue where his name had come up.
In March 2006, the Alliance for Democracy
Alliance for Democracy (Nigeria)
The Alliance for Democracy was a progressive opposition political party in Nigeria. It was formed on September 9th 1998. At the 2003 legislative elections, 12 April 2003, the party won 8.8 % of the popular vote and 34 out of 360 seats in the Nigerian House of Representatives and six out of...
(AD) called on President Olusegun Obasanjo to prosecute the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, and the board and management of the NPA over allegations of frivolous award of contracts worth N60 million.
In August 2008, the EFCC under its new head Farida Waziri arrested Olabode George in Lagos and arraigned him and four others on a 163 count-charge of conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, abuse of office and alleged illegal award of contracts worth N84 billion while he was chairman of the NPA.
After the trial had started, the EFCC reduced the charge to 63 counts.
In October 2009, Bode George was found guilty and sentenced to jail for 30 months.
The sentence was handed out by Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole.
The judge found the defendants guilty on 47 out of the 68 counts. The total sentences added up to 28 years, but the counts for disobedience to lawful order were ruled to run concurrently for six months, and the counts for contract inflation then to run concurrently for two years.
His lawyers filed an appeal and requested bail pending resolution of the appeal.
The appeal was however refused by the court.
As a prisoner, Chief Bode George and his colleagues were placed in the V.I.P. section of the prison. They were not required to wear prison uniforms, and were allowed to have meals prepared by their families.