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One-time Upper East Regional Minister and Director of the National Service Scheme, Boniface Gambila, has been released from the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) after being held by the security agency for some time. He was charged with stealing. There were conflicting details about what exactly he was accused of but information suggested that he was picked up by the BNI based on recommendations from a 2003 audit report that revealed alleged mishandling of GH�470,000 for the purchase of bicycles, mattresses, lanterns and food items for service personnel while he managed the National Service Scheme as director. But Mr Gambila described the charges as a foolish matter intended to damage his political career. The former Upper East Regional Minister in the Kufuor administration was a culprit of the Auditor General�s report regarding the procurement of mattresses for the National Service Scheme, according to Anthony Karbo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Youth Organiser, who joined other party gurus to storm the BNI Greater Accra Regional Offices where Gambila was held until he was bailed yesterday. Leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), among them lawyers, upon hearing about the arrest of their colleague, went to the Greater Accra Regional offices of the security agency at the 37 Military Hospital area, where he was held, but they were unable to see him. The denial by the security agents to allow them to see the incarcerated personality, let alone chat with him, heightened their anxiety. His lawyers from Derry & Co., represented by Carl Adongo, after meeting with him, however, called the anxious NPP personalities that he was in good health, a disclosure which calmed their nerves and doused the rising political temperature. DAILY GUIDE gathered that Gambila�s property was inspected as part of the bail terms, prior to his release from custody. Gambila later told newsmen that his arrest and the charges preferred against him were all foolish and politically-motivated. The procurement of the items for which he was being charged, he said, was done when he had vacated his position as director of the scheme, having been appointed a minister by the then president, John Agyekum Kufuor. He noted that it would not be impossible to identify whoever signed for the items in question, adding that such politically-motivated arrests were not good for the country. The BNI, he said, had asked that he make himself available whenever he was required to show up at their premises. He was earlier invited by the security agency and when he turned up, he was detained. Supporting his position was the NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Afriyie, who rubbished the action, explaining that the NDC was using the BNI to persecute members of the NPP. It was an action seeking to make it difficult for Boniface Gambila to wrest the Nabdam seat from Moses Asaga, Sir John pointed out. In any case, he explained, the security agency could have dragged the opposition politician to court after keeping him within the 48 hours constitutionally-mandated time frame. The last time the leadership of the largest opposition party stormed the Greater Accra Regional offices of the BNI, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, former Minister of Information in the Kufuor regime, had been arrested.