Supreme Court Overturns Senator Nwaoboshi's Conviction in Alleged N805m Fraud Case
In a significant turn of events, the Supreme Court has quashed the conviction and seven-year imprisonment sentence of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North. The charges against him included fraud and money laundering.
The apex court has ordered his immediate release from Ikoyi prisons in Lagos, where he has been held. The Supreme Court's judgment, delivered on Friday, also resulted in the release of the two companies involved in the case: Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd. These companies had been jointly charged with Nwaoboshi by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Supreme Court, in a split decision of four-to-one, overturned the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Lagos, which had previously reversed the discharge and acquittal of Nwaoboshi and the companies by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, in the lead judgment, concluded that Nwaoboshi and the two companies had been wrongfully and maliciously prosecuted by the EFCC for acts that were not recognized as offences under the law. The court criticized the EFCC for subjecting them to a needless criminal trial related to a civil transaction.
It is worth noting that the EFCC had accused Nwaoboshi and his companies of unlawfully acquiring Guinea House, a property located on Marine Road in Apapa, Lagos, allegedly belonging to the Delta State Government. According to the anti-graft agency, Suiming Electrical Ltd., acting on behalf of Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd., had transferred a portion of the purchase funds, which were believed to be proceeds from illicit activities.
This ruling by the Supreme Court marks a significant development in the case, highlighting the complexities surrounding the charges and raising questions about the legality of the prosecution's actions. The decision has far-reaching implications, not only for Senator Nwaoboshi but also for the credibility and approach of the EFCC in handling similar cases in the future.
