FOR THE RECORD: Where is Peter Nwaoboshi?

By SAMUEL ONWORDI and RAYMOND NICE

Barely five weeks ago, the Court of Appeal Lagos Division convicted and sentenced the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Peter Nwaoboshi, to seven years imprisonment for money laundering.

The ruling was sequel to an appeal to challenge the judgement of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, which on June 18, 2018 discharged and acquitted Nwaoboshi of a two-count charge of fraud and money laundering.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the three defendants over the acquisition of a property named Guinea House, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos, for N805 million.

Part of the money paid to the vendor, precisely a sum of N322 million, transferred by Suiming Electrical Ltd on behalf of Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd, was alleged to be part of the proceeds of fraud.

But in his judgement, Justice Aneke held that the prosecution failed to call vital witnesses and tender concrete evidence to prove the elements of the offences for which it charged the defendants.

Furthermore, Justice Aneke said the evidence of PW2 “proved that the third defendant obtained a loan of N1.2 billion from Zenith Bank for purchase of additional equipment and as provision of working capital,’” the EFCC said in a statement issued on Friday on its official Twitter handle.

However, ruling on the EFCC’s appeal on 1st July 2022, the Court of Appeal held that the trial judge erred in dismissing the charges against the respondents. It said the prosecution had proved the ingredients of the offence and consequently found the defendants guilty as charged.

Five weeks after the Court of Appeal’s verdict in which Sen Peter Nwaoboshi was sentenced to seven years in prison, the Delta State Senator is still moving a free man in convoy guarded by heavily armed policemen and showing off as if he is above the law. What an affront to the rule of law!

“A court verdict ought to be binding until set aside by a superior court”. This implies that Peter Nwaoboshi is supposed to be in prison until a superior Court frees him, but the reverse is the case.

Sen Peter Nwaoboshi seems to be an outlaw because of his membership in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). It’s obvious that Nigeria under President Buhari operates two sets of law, one for the ordinary man while the other for the rich political class.

A source claimed that Peter Nwaoboshi is currently being treated for an undisclosed ailment at the National hospital on the request of Nigeria Correctional Center. Could this be true? Why do Nigeria political class always fall sick any time they are being tried for corruption? Why has the EFCC suddenly lost interest in Peter Nwaoboshi’s whereabouts after conviction? Is there something they are not telling Nigerians? Whatever it is, the law must take its course!