Delta Senator Remanded In Prison Custody Over N806m Fraud

YAHAYA IBRAHIM

Mr. Peter Nwaoboshi, a Senator representing Delta North Senatorial district, being led away out of the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos

Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the prison remand of Mr. Peter Nwaoboshi, a Senator representing Delta North Senatorial district, pending when ruling for his bail application will be heard on Friday.

The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) senator was arraigned before the court on an alleged N806 million fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Senator Nwaoboshi alongside his two companies on charges bordering on the said fraud.

The companies are: Golden Touch Construction Projects Limited and Summing Electricals Limited.

According to the EFCC, the senator popularly called Oshimele, committed the offence between May and June 2014.

In the charge, 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 N806 million. Adding that the sum of N322 million, cut of the purchase price transferred to the vendors by order of Shining Electrical Limited formed parts of the proceed of an unlawful act.

The offences according to the prosecution led by Salisu Abubakar, are contrary to committed an offence contrary to sections 15(2)(d) and 18 (a) the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, (as amended) and punishable under section punishable under section 15(3) and 15(2)(d) of the same Act.

However, the Senator, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his plea of not guilty, his lawyer, Dr. V. J. O. Azinge (SAN), told the court that they have filed a bail application, and 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.

The presiding judge, 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, the judge, ordered that the Senator be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons till Friday, for ruling on the bail application.

Alinnor Arinze