Bode George : Defence counsel accuses witness

Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare, Lagos - 19.02.2009

A prosecution witness in the ongoing suit against the former chairman of the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Bode George and five others, Mr. Bamanga Bello, on Wednesday told a Lagos high court that the management of the NPA over the years had been using same method of awarding contracts in line with the 1999 directive from the Federal Ministry of Transport, rather than the recent directive of 2001.

He also denied the allegation that his investigative team carried out a selective prosecution to cover up some individuals.

The directives from the ministry stipulated the approval limit which the board, management and other approving authorities of the NPA and other government parastatals could go before awarding contracts.

Mr. Bello said these during his cross examination by defence counsel at the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Joseph Oyewole.

The defence counsel accused the prosecution of carrying out selective trials as it failed to charge to court, some of the managing directors and other top management staff interrogated during its investigations which led to the arraignment of the defendants.

Other board members not invited included Mallam Bello Gwandu, Mr J. Y. Akwagu, Mr. Adebayo Sarumi, the representative of the Ministry of Transport, Mrs. O. Okonkwo and M.I. Ibrahim.

The case was adjourned till March 5.