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Lastest News Nigeria, Politics, Business, Sport, Interview
Lastest News Nigeria, Politics, Business, Sport, Interview
Tunji Wusu –
On Friday, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi received some relief when the Supreme Court overturned his seven-year prison sentence.
After ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) money laundering accusation against the lawmaker who had formerly represented Delta North Senatorial District was unfounded, the supreme court ordered his immediate release from prison.
You may recall that on July 1, 2022, the Court of Appeal in Lagos condemned Senator Nwaoboshi to prison after finding him guilty of the two counts the EFCC had brought against him.
The appeal court similarly ordered that his two businesses, Suiming Electrical Ltd. and Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd., be dissolved in accordance with Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021.
The Supreme Court, however, overturned the appellate court’s decision in a 4-1 split decision.
It maintained the Federal High Court’s first decision in Lagos State, which cleared the troubled former legislator of the allegations leveled against him.
The verdict made by the appellate court against Nwaoboshi’s firms was also overturned by the supreme court in its lead opinion, which was written by Justice Emmanuel Agim.
The anti-graft agency was found to have unfairly and intentionally punished the appellants for allegedly committing crimes that were not punishable by law.
It was decided that the ex-lawmaker and his enterprises were exposed to an unnecessary criminal trial by the EFCC because of a civil transaction.
The EFCC said that Nwaoboshi and his businesses bought Guinea House on Marine Road in Apapa, Lagos, illegally for N805 million from the Delta State government.
According to the prosecution, Suiming Electrical Ltd transferred some of the funds utilized to purchase the property on behalf of Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd.
The EFCC declared that it thought the money Nwaoboshi and his business used to purchase the home came from criminal activity.
Nwaoboshi, who was dissatisfied with his conviction and prison term, appealed the matter to the Supreme Court, where he on Friday won a favorable ruling.
