Posted by By MURPHY GANAGANA, Abuja on
Former vice chairman of the People's Democratic Party, (PDP), South-West Zone, Chief Olabode George, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged involvement in the misappropriation of over N80 billion, while he held sway as chairman, board of directors of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).
Former vice chairman of the People's Democratic Party, (PDP), South-West Zone, Chief Olabode George, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged involvement in the misappropriation of over N80 billion, while he held sway as chairman, board of directors of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).
George, a close associate of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo under whose regime he was appointed to oversee the affairs of the NPA board, was picked up in Abuja, in the early hours of Thursday by operatives of the anti-graft agency, and whisked to the Wuse district headquarters of the EFCC, where he was still being interrogated as at the time of filing this report.
His arrest came five days after he returned from the United Kingdom where he had been on vacation. On return to the country last Saturday, George had denied dipping his hands into the vaults of the NPA and embezzling public funds throughout his tenure as board chairman. He dared the EFCC to arrest him, if there was any evidence linking him to the alleged fraud.
Interestingly, although a presidential panel constituted by Obasanjo and headed by erstwhile chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu to probe into the affairs of the NPA had turned in a scathing report which indicted George and several others involved in the management of the maritime agency, the Presidency rather opted to set up another committee to review the report, which was laid to rest until the EFCC now headed by Mrs Farida Waziri arrested the PDP chieftain.
Apparently unaware that the EFCC under the present dispensation had spread its dragnet awaiting his return from overseas, George had, while dispelling the rumour of his escape from the country, boasted in a chat with Aviation correspondents on arrival in Lagos, that he was ready to face the anti-graft agency.
'Me? Run away? That is rubbish. I am back now and whoever wrote that article [newspaper report], should bring his or her EFCC to come and arrest me. So, there is no need to clear any air,' he reportedly said, while dismissing allegations that he embezzled public funds as the handiwork of his detractors.
EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the arrest to Daily Sun, did not give details. 'Yes, it is true Bode George was arrested this morning. He is with us at the headquarters where he is being interrogated,' the commission's spokesman said on telephone.
However, a top operative of the agency who pleaded anonymity said George would be quizzed to reveal every bit he knew about the mess at the NPA and he may likely be arraigned in court today or early next week.'