Olabode George: Appeal Court upholds Lagos High Court verdict.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Friday upheld the judgment of a Lagos High Court which sentenced Olabode George, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to 32 months imprisonment.
Three Justices led by Mrs Clara Ogunbiyi also upheld the 32 months imprisonment slammed on George’s co-convicts, Aminu Dabo, former Managing Director, O. Abidoye, Abdullahi Tafida, Zanna Maidaribe and Sule Aliyu.
All the six convicts appealed the judgment of Justice Joseph Oyewole delivered on Oct. 26, 2009 that found them guilty of 61 out of the 68 count-charge of contract splitting.
They were, however, discharged and acquitted on seven counts of corruption in the case which was prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The Justices also dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the AGF challenging Justice Oyewole’s judgment that discharged and acquitted the accused persons on the seven counts.
Delivering the Judgment on Friday, Justice Ogunbiyi held that the lower court had the jurisdiction to prosecute the accused persons since they did not raise any objection when the charge was read to them.
The justices also held that the AGF had the powers to engage a private legal practitioner, Festus Keyamo, to handle the matter on his behalf and could also persecute them under the laws of Lagos State.
The justices further held that all the evidence before them clearly showed that there was indeed contract splitting and the appellants were guilty as charged by the lower court.
Also ruling on the cross-appeal, the justices held that it lacked merit and dismissed it.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Friday upheld the judgment of a Lagos High Court which sentenced Olabode George, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to 32 months imprisonment.
Three Justices led by Mrs Clara Ogunbiyi also upheld the 32 months imprisonment slammed on George’s co-convicts, Aminu Dabo, former Managing Director, O. Abidoye, Abdullahi Tafida, Zanna Maidaribe and Sule Aliyu.
All the six convicts appealed the judgment of Justice Joseph Oyewole delivered on Oct. 26, 2009 that found them guilty of 61 out of the 68 count-charge of contract splitting.
They were, however, discharged and acquitted on seven counts of corruption in the case which was prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The Justices also dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the AGF challenging Justice Oyewole’s judgment that discharged and acquitted the accused persons on the seven counts.
Delivering the Judgment on Friday, Justice Ogunbiyi held that the lower court had the jurisdiction to prosecute the accused persons since they did not raise any objection when the charge was read to them.
The justices also held that the AGF had the powers to engage a private legal practitioner, Festus Keyamo, to handle the matter on his behalf and could also persecute them under the laws of Lagos State.
The justices further held that all the evidence before them clearly showed that there was indeed contract splitting and the appellants were guilty as charged by the lower court.
Also ruling on the cross-appeal, the justices held that it lacked merit and dismissed it.
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