S’ Court voids Senator Nwaoboshi’s conviction for alleged N805m fraud

*  Orders immediate release from custody 

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Supreme Court yesterday voided the conviction of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi over fraud and money laundering charges and ordered his immediate release from the custody of the Correctional Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Senator, who represented Delta North during the Ninth Assembly, had been in custody since last year when he was found guilty of fraud and money laundering charge by the Court of Appeal and subsequently sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

Nwaoboshi was freed by four of the five members of the panel that heard his appeal against the judgement of the appellate court.

Also freed are two companies – Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd – tried with him on a two-count charge.

While a Federal High Court in Lagos had freed him of the allegations filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Court of Appeal had in a judgement delivered on July 1 found him guilty and sentenced him to jail.

But in the majority judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court held that Nwaoboshi and the two companies were unjustly and maliciously prosecuted by the EFCC for committing no offences known to law, who subjected them to needless criminal trial in relation to civil transaction.

The EFCC had accused Nwaoboshi and his companies of illegally acquiring a property named Guinea House on Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos, for N805 million. The property is said to belong to the Delta State Government.

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