…APC Hails Judgment As Jubilation Erupts in Delta
The Supreme Court on Friday quashed the conviction and sentencing of the immediate past senator from Delta North Senatorial District and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who was earlier sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal for alleged complicity in money laundering.
The apex court in her judgment also ordered his immediate release from Ikoyi prisons, Lagos where he is being detained. Accordingly, the two companies linked to him on the two-count charge, Messrs; Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd were freed from sanction.
In a lead judgment by Justice Emmanuel Agim the court held that Nwaobishi and the two companies were unjustly and maliciously prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for committing no offences known to the law, which subjected them to a needless criminal trial over a civil transaction.
In a split decision of four-to-one, the Supreme Court set aside the July 1, 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which reversed their discharge and acquittal by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
It would be recalled that the EFCC had accused Nwaoboshi and his companies of illegally acquiring a property named Guinea House on Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos state, for N805 million, a property said to belong to the Delta State Govt.
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
Accordingly, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State chapter has hailed the Supreme Court for discharging and acquitting the Senator of all the charges proffered against him by the EFCC, while describing the apex court as not just the last bastion of hope for the common man, but the hope of even those who were truly innocent but framed by powerful political opponents.
APC in a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo Esq, and jointly signed by the State Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, on Friday, “commended the Supreme Court for being an arbiter of truth and justice, expresses joy and gratitude to God for listening to the prayers of members of the Party in declaring the former senator of innocent of the politically motivated and trumped up charges by the EFCC.
“The State Chairman went to describe Sen Peter Nwaoboshi as 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. Quoting the words of Pastor John Maxwell, Elder Sobotie stated that “Natural leaders often need to be broken. Consider your natural ability to lead a gift from God, but your character is a gift to present back to God. Remember, every time you stand up under the weight of adversity, you are being prepared like, Jacob and Joseph were, to better serve God and lead people.
“The State Chairman took a swipe at those who had earlier mocked and made derogatory remarks at the plight of Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi and reminded them that no man is God and no man, be he a Governor or not can ever be God; stating that the leadership of the Party had right from the very beginning had unshakeable faith and belief in the innocence of the former senator representing Delta North. “We know that the EFCC were merely being used by the administration of the former governor of Delta State to politically prosecute Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi and today our belief in his innocence has been vindicated by the judgment of the supreme court. The wickedness of the former Governor has come to an end,” he said.
“The State Chairman also expresses profound appreciation to the leaders of the Party who stood firmly with Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi during his ordeal, particularly the former deputy president of the Senate, HE Sen. Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, CFR, for his leadership role in ensuring that the Party never abandoned the former senator throughout the trying times.”
