By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Senior Correspondent
A serving Senator of the Federal Republic, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North Senatorial Zone in the Upper Legislative Chamber was on Wednesday April 25 arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on two-count charge of alleged N805 million fraud
Arraigned along with Senator Nwaoboshi are two of his companies; Golden Touch Construction Projects Limited and Summing Electricals Limited.
In the charge, the EFCC alleged that the Senator who is fondly called ‘Oshimili’ by his supporters who were in court to show solidarity, had committed the offence between May and June 2014.
Prior to the hearing of his bail application, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) had arraigned the Senator alongside his two companies, before the Court, on charges bordering on fraud.
Specifically, Nwaoboshi and his companies were alleged to have conspired and acquired a property described as Guinea House, Marine Road, Apapa-Lagos for the sum of N805 million, which he reasonably ought to have known that the sum of N322 million, out of the purchase price transferred to the vendors by order of Summing Electricals Limited, formed part of the proceed of an unlawful act.
The EFCC further alleged that the Senator’s company, Summing Electricals Limited, had on or about May 14, 2014, aided him and his company, Golden Touch Construction Project Limited, to commit offence bordering on money laundering.
According to EFCC prosecution team led by Salisu Abubakar, the offences allegedly committed by the Senator are contrary to Sections 15(2)(d) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3) and 15(2)(d) of the same Act.
After listening to the charge read out to him, the accused pleaded not guilty to the two counts
Consequent upon his plea of not guilty, his counsel, Dr. Azinge (SAN), told the court that they have filed a bail application, adding that same has been served on the prosecution.
Mr. Abubakar, confirmed being served with the bail application, but told the court that he needed time to respond to the application.
In the circumstance, Justice Idris, stood down the matter for the prosecution to file and serve its counter to the Senator’s bail application.
Upon resumption for the hearing of the application, and after hearing both parties, Justice Idris, ordered that the Senator be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons till Friday April 27, when ruling will be delivered on his bail application.