Supreme Court overturns conviction of Sen. Nwaoboshi, two others over fraud
Supreme Court has vacated the ruling of the Court of Appeal which convicted former senator representing Delta North senatorial zone, Peter Nwaoboshi for offences bordering on fraud and money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Nwaoboshi, formerly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator representing the zone at the National Assembly had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) but had failed to retain his seat after loss to Chief Ned Nwoko as he battled court proceedings.
The Court of Appeal had sentenced Nwaoboshi to seven years imprisonment after conviction for the charges.
In a lead judgment by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the Supreme Court held that Nwaoboshi and the two companies were unjustly and maliciously prosecuted by EFCC for committing no offences known to the law, which subjected them to a needless criminal trial in relation to civil transactions.
The court set aside the July 1, 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which had reversed their discharge and acquittal by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The court, therefore, ordered his immediate release from Ikoyi prisons in Lagos, where he is currently being held.
The Supreme Court also acquitted the two companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd, tried with him on a two-count charge brought against them by EFCC.
The EFCC had accused Nwaoboshi and his companies of illegally acquiring a property named Guinea House on Marine Road, in 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 the funds are believed to be proceeds of their illicit activities.
