TRIAL OF CHIEF OLABODE GEORGE: Court Admits Minutes of NPA Board Meetings

Justice Olubunmi Joseph Oyewole sitting at the Lagos High Court of Justice, last week admitted as exhibits minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority  (NPA) under the chairmanship of Chief Olabode George, who is presently charged with a 68- count criminal charge.
The trial of Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which started on Tuesday continued till late last week as the first prosecution witness, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ayoola Ajala mounted the witness box again and was Cross Examined by lead-Counsel to chief Olabode George – Chief Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN).
Chief Olabode George is standing a joint trial with five others on a 68 court charge of fraud brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It would be recalled that the federal government had set up a committee to investigate the atrocities that were allegedly perpetrated in the NPA between 2001 to 2003 when Chief Olabode George held sway as the chairman of the NPA.  
Members of the committee included former chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and representatives from the ministry of finance and that of transport and also from the office of the secretary to the F.G. and a representative from the due process office.  
During Cross –Examination, Thursday, Chief Ayanlaja (SAN) presented the 9th and the 11th minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the NPA under the Chairmanship of Chief Bode George to the Court to be accepted as exhibit in the case. The Trial Judge, Justice Oyewole accepted the two documents  as exhibits.
From the two documents he presented, Chief Ayanlaja (SAN) tried to proof to the Court that some of the contracts awarded by the board of Chief Bode George followed due process and that the contracts included the purchase of 32 vessels, several contracts at the Roll on Roll off (RORO) ports, Calabar ports and the Tin-Can Island Ports which he said originated from the management of the NPA and was only sent to the board for approval.