In a major turn of events, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi received respite on Friday as the Supreme Court invalidated his seven-year prison sentence. The apex court dismissed the money laundering charge brought against the senator by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ordered his immediate release from prison custody.
The conviction and subsequent prison sentence of Senator Nwaoboshi were handed down by the Court of Appeal in Lagos on July 1, 2022. The senator, who represented the Delta North Senatorial District, was found guilty on a two-count charge filed by the EFCC. Additionally, the appellate court ordered the winding up of his companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd, in accordance with Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021.
However, the Supreme Court, in a split decision of four-to-one, overturned the judgment of the appellate court. It upheld the original ruling of the Federal High Court in Lagos State, which had acquitted and discharged the embattled former lawmaker of the charges against him. Furthermore, the apex court also overturned the appellate court’s decision concerning Nwaoboshi’s companies.
Justice Emmanuel Agim delivered the lead judgment on behalf of the Supreme Court. The court concluded that the appellants were wrongfully and maliciously prosecuted by the EFCC for offenses that were not recognized by the law. It determined that the anti-graft agency had subjected the ex-lawmaker and his companies to an unnecessary criminal trial in relation to a civil transaction.
The EFCC had accused Nwaoboshi and his companies of illegally acquiring Guinea House, a property located on Marine Road in Apapa, Lagos, for N805 million, which supposedly belonged to the Delta State government. The prosecution alleged that Suiming Electrical Ltd, on behalf of Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd, had transferred part of the funds used to purchase the property. The EFCC contended that these funds were proceeds of crime.
Displeased with his conviction and prison sentence, Nwaoboshi appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, where he ultimately obtained a favorable judgment on Friday. The Supreme Court’s ruling has set aside the prison sentence and effectively exonerated Senator Nwaoboshi of all charges brought against him by the EFCC.
Comments are closed.