Godwin Oritse, Abdulwahab Abdulah, Ishola Balogun, Dapo Akinrefon & Ifeanyi Okolie
Among top politicians that were present at the church service were Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Ogun state governor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Ayo Fayose, former Ekiti state governor, Defence Minister, Mr Kayode Ademola, John Odeh, Gen Tunji Olurin, Mrs Modinat Adedibu, Deputy Governor Oyo State, Mr. Taofeek Arapaja, Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro among others.
Obasanjo who came in at about 1pm embraced Chief Bode George and exchanged pleasantries with other politicians including Governor Gbenga Daniel..."
I have graduated from the university of life, says Bode George
GREAT celebration heralded the release of former South West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Chief Olabode George from the Maximum Prison in Kirikiri in Lagos Saturday, as hundreds of party supporters and well wishers gave him a warm reception.
Bode George who was in very high spirit, acknowledged greetings from supporters with a victory sign when he hung on the door of a Toyota Sequia four runner jeep with registration BD 252 EKY , wearing a white Buba and Sokoto.
Bode George who stepped out of the gates of the prison at exactly 10 : 40 am was met by the Lagos State PDP chieftains who ushered him into the waiting vehicle and drove straight to the Cathedral Church of Christ at the Marina, Lagos for the thanks giving service.
Thousands of party supporters had gathered at area, as early as 7:00am waiting for the release of the popular Lagos Boy. Many were clad in various aso-ebi and customized T-Shirts with inscriptions such as We thank God your incarceration is highly political, G18 etc, defying the security personnel and the armed guards of the Prison Service who had barricaded the road..
However, this euphoria was not without some over-zealousness from the supporters of the politician, attacking a photo journalist, who defied their instruction not to catch his picture while stepping out of the Prison.
Among top politicians that were present at the church service were Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Ogun state governor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Ayo Fayose, former Ekiti state governor, Defence Minister, Mr Kayode Ademola, John Odeh, Gen Tunji Olurin, Mrs Modinat Adedibu, Deputy Governor Oyo State, Mr. Taofeek Arapaja, Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro among others.
Obasanjo who came in at about 1pm embraced Chief Bode George and exchanged pleasantries with other politicians including Governor Gbenga Daniel.
Bode George who spoke to newsmen after the church service said he holds no grudge against anybody and wish everybody well.
He said: Out there in the prison, you are totally blanked out, You don't know what is going on, so, I want to thank you guys, thank all Nigerians with malice to nobody and love for all. We will make our country an envy to other nations. I have collected the certificate from the university of life and I thank God. I just graduated from the university of life.
Bode George who was sentenced to a two-year jail term alongside some 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 . He was accused on a 163-count charge that bordered on alleged abuse of office and award of about N100bn contracts without due process.
George's supporters at Kirikiri
The arraignment had followed the investigation conducted by the EFCC under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. But they all pleaded not guilty. However, on October 24, 2008, the EFCC reduced the charges to 68.
The convicts were said to have inflated the contract prices contrary to Section 22 (3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Justice Joseph Oyewole held that the EFCC proved beyond reasonable doubt that George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, abused his office and the court delivered its judgment on Monday, October 26, 2009.
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