Michael Onwuka, Enugu
The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Friday convicted and sentenced Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi to seven years imprisonment over fraud and money laundering.
Nwaoboshi is the senator representing Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
Recall that the senator was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge of fraud and money laundering.
The senator, alongside his two companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd. and Suiming Electrical Ltd. were arraigned over acquisition of property named Guinea House, Marine Road, in Apapa, Lagos, for N805 million.
The EFCC had alleged that N322 million, being part of the money paid to the vendor and transferred by Suiming Electrical Ltd. on behalf of Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd., was part of proceeds of fraud.
However, a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, in a judgment on June 18, 2018, discharged and acquitted the defendants.
The trial judge had 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.
The EFCC, then, appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court.
The appellate court in its judgment on Friday, held that the trial judge erred by dismissing the charges against the respondents, adding that the prosecution proved the ingredients of the offence.
The court, consequently, found the defendants guilty as charged and sentenced the first defendant to seven years imprisonment.
The appellate court also ordered that his two companies be wound up in line with the provisions of Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021.
