Delta APC rejoices as S’Court quashes Nwaoboshi’s conviction

Forum 9 months ago

Delta APC rejoices as S’Court quashes Nwaoboshi’s conviction

The Supreme Court, on Friday, overturned the conviction of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi and his sentencing to seven years imprisonment for offences bordering on fraud and money laundering.

The former senator representing Delta North was convicted by the Court of Appeal in Lagos on two counts of fraud and money laundering in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The apex court also ordered his immediate release from the Ikoyi Prison in Lagos.

In the lead judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the court held that Nwaoboshi and his two companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Limited and Suiming Electrical Limited, were unjustly prosecuted by the EFCC.

Besides, the court said Nwaoboshi was needlessly subjected to criminal trial in respect of civil transactions.

The apex court set aside the July 1, 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which nullified his discharge and acquittal by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The EFCC had accused the former senator and his companies of illegally acquiring a property named Guinea House on Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos, for N805m.

The property was said to belong to the Delta State Government.

The anti-graft agency claimed that part of the money paid for the property was transferred by Suiming Electrical Limited on behalf of Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Project Limited, adding the fund was believed to be proceeds of their illicit activities.

Meanwhile, the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has described Nwaoboshi as a leader whose destiny cannot be tampered with.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Valentine Onojeghuo, stated this on Friday while reacting to the Supreme Court judgment.

He said the state Chairman of the party, Omeni Sobotie, had already commended the apex court for being an arbiter of truth and justice.

Onojeghuo stated, “We express joy and gratitude to God for listening to the prayers of members of the party in declaring the former senator innocent of the politically-motivated and trumped-up charges by the EFCC.

“Nwaoboshi is a leader of men whose destiny has been tested by the crucibles of life and has been vindicated by the judgment of the Supreme Court today.”

Also, a senior aide to the Nwaoboshi, Philip Elueme, noted that the Supreme Court had vindicated his principal.

He stated, “There was no issue of money laundering anywhere, rather the court judgement had political backing from some competitors of the senator.”

He added, “A company in which he had an interest in took a N1.2bn loan from the bank which he had paid back. He paid N1.9bn including the interest back to the bank. Nexim Bank came to the court and testified that see, this is our best customer. He has fulfilled all obligations.

“There was no charge against him. The records are there, how can that be money laundering? It is the work of his political enemies, they were afraid of his strength; particularly what he did at the Senate.”