He was picked up in his Abuja home after he was trailed for more than 24 hours without his knowledge.

 

Sources said he would have been arrested in Lagos but that he went into hiding after he dared the commission over a reported plan to arrest him.

Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the arrest yesterday was economical with information on the reasons for his arrest.

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The source which said he had already volunteered useful information to the anti-graft agency said he was also questioned over N85 billion fraud in the Ports Authority during his tenure.

A reliable source at the Commission said he would definitely be arraigned before a high court of jurisdiction before the expiration of the time allowed by the constitution for his detention.

"I can confirm to you that if he is not arraigned tomorrow (Friday), he will definitely be arraigned on Monday.

"This is because the case against him is already ripe for trial long before now," the source added.
Chief George had been away to the US and the UK for some time before he returned, last week.
While he was away, tongues had wagged that he ran away to evade arrest.

But when he arrived the country, last week, he debunked the insinuations making the rounds that he went on exile to evade arrest and possible prosecution.

His words: "Me? Run away? That is rubbish. I'm back now and whoever wrote that article should bring his/her EFCC to come and arrest me. So, there's no need to clear any air.

Is it a crime for one to be on holidays? So, if you work continuously at the highest echelon of the political party for nine years and you decide to have a break from the day-to-day running of your office, what is wrong with that?

You see, people should stop being mischievous. Bode George is back. I've rested enough. My systems are working very well.

"All the checks I didn't do for many years that nearly resulted to ill-health, I've done them now and I feel well. In fact, I feel like an 18-year-old, ready to launch back on the plough. There is no problem at all.

I'm happy to be back and if I'm invited, I'll go. Am I not a Nigerian? What is there to answer in the last six years that they are asking? How can a part-time chairman of the NPA be responsible for anything there? Whoever is making the wuru wuru there, they know," he said.

Although Vanguard was not privy to the statement made by Bode George to the commission yesterday, it however learnt that he was queried on a number of allegations contained in a sworn affidavit by an investigation officer with the EFCC, one Bamanga Bello on the outcome of the probe of the former NPA boss.