Crime
N805m Scam: Finally, Senator Nwaoboshi Lands in Prison
N805m Scam: Finally, Senator Nwaoboshi Lands in Prison
By Michael Mike
The Senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly, Peter Nwaoboshi, who has been on the run months after the Court of Appeal Lagos Division convicted and sentenced him to 7 years imprisonment for money laundering, is finally in prison custody. The lawmaker who was intercepted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at a Hospital in Lagos on Monday, February 6, was finally remanded in Ikoyi Custodial Centre today, February 8, 2023, to commence his prison term.
The Court of Appeal had in a judgement it delivered on July 1, 2022, sentenced him to prison after it convicted him on a two-count charge of money laundering and also ordered the winding up of his two companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd, in line with the provision of Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021, and their properties forfeited to the Federal Government.
But the lawmaker who was not present in court at the time of the ruling, went underground and refused to present himself to the Nigerian Correctional Service. Instead, he proceeded to the Supreme Court, praying the apex court to not only set it aside the judgment of the appeal court but grant him bail, pending the determination of his appeal.
But in a unanimous decision on January 27, 2023, the apex court dismissed the application. In the lead judgement by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court wondered why Nwaoboshi, who refused to submit himself to the law, would seek the indulgence of the law.
Justice Tijani Abubakar, in his contribution, upbraided the Appellant for filing the bail application while on the run.
“We must make it very, very clear to all Nigerians that nobody is above the law. The government and the governed are subject to the rule of law. And, we must ensure that there is respect for the rule of law”.
The Court of Appeal judgement that convicted Nwaoboshi followed an appeal by the EFCC against the judgment of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which had on June 18, 2021, discharged and acquitted the lawmaker and his companies.
Nwaoboshi and his companies illegally acquired a property named Guinea House, Marine Road, in Apapa, Lagos, for N805 million. Part of the money paid for the property was transferred by Suiming Electrical Ltd on behalf of Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd. The funds are believed to be proceeds of illicit activities of the convict.
One of the counts reads: ” That you, Peter Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Projects Limited, between May and June, 2014, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did acquire a property described as Guinea House, Marina Road, Apapa, Lagos, for the sum of N805million, when you reasonably ought to have known that the sum of N322 million out of the purchase price transferred to the vendors by order of Suinming Electricals Limited formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act of 2011(as amended) and punishable under Section (15)(3) of the same Act.
N805m Scam: Finally, Senator Nwaoboshi Lands in Prison
Soldier Shoots Suspect During Struggle After Arrest in Enugu
By Zagazola Makama
A suspect arrested by troops of Operation UDO KA in Enugu State has died after he was shot during a struggle with a soldier while allegedly attempting to disarm the serviceman.
Security sources told Zagazola that the incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. on June 24 along the 9th Mile–Enugu Road in Udi Local Government Area.
The sources said troops of the 103 Battalion (Rear), deployed at Ugwu Onyema, responded to a distress call over the conduct of a disorderly tipper driver along the busy highway.
According to the sources, the suspect was apprehended and taken to the military location for preliminary interrogation, where he allegedly became violent and attempted to seize a soldier’s weapon.
“The suspect resisted arrest and, during the ensuing struggle, attempted to disarm one of the soldiers. In the process, he was shot,” the source said.
The victim was immediately evacuated to a nearby hospital for medical treatment but was later confirmed dead by doctors.
The sources added that troops reinforced security in the area and intensified patrols to prevent any breakdown of law and order following the incident.
Military authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the development as of the time of filing this report.
Soldier Shoots Suspect During Struggle After Arrest in Enugu
Soldier Detained After Allegedly Shooting Two Civilians in Borno
By Zagazola Makama
A Nigerian Army soldier has been detained after allegedly firing indiscriminately and injuring two civilians at Pulka town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources told Zagazola that the incident occurred at about 5:10 p.m. on June 23.
The sources said the soldier, identified
Pte. Lawan Abubakar of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion deployed at Ngoshe, allegedly left his duty location without official authorization and proceeded to Pulka town.
According to the sources, the soldier fired several rounds indiscriminately around the Pulka Market area, injuring two civilians.
Troops of the 192 Battalion promptly responded, disarmed the soldier and took him into custody.
The injured civilians were evacuated to the General Hospital, Gwoza, where they are receiving medical treatment.
The sources added that the soldier has been transferred to the Headquarters, 26 Task Force Brigade, for further investigation and disciplinary action.
Soldier Detained After Allegedly Shooting Two Civilians in Borno
Again, Kidnappers Arrested by DSS Convicted, Bag Death Sentence in Ekiti State
*Third Defendant Discharged as Chief Judge Commends DSS Prosecutors
By: Our Reporter
Two men arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) have been sentenced to death by an Ekiti State High Court, following their conviction for kidnapping a staff of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
While the kidnappers, Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar, were convicted and sentence of to death, the third defendant, Usman Abubakar, was discharged after the Court found insufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
The case bordered on the 22nd April 2022 abduction of Omoboade Adesina, a female staff member of the NYSC in the state. Both convicts were subsequently arrested and prosecuted by the DSS.
Delivering judgment, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Lekan Ogunmoye, sentenced both defendants to death by hanging, but discharged the third.
The Chief Judge commended the diligence of DSS prosecutors in proving the case beyond reasonable doubt. He specifically highlighted the identification parade conducted by the Service and the analysis of call data records during investigation as pivotal to the conviction.
The conviction marks yet another major courtroom victory for the DSS. This comies on the heels of a death sentence handed down by a Sokoto High Court against three men convicted of terrorism and cross-border arms proliferation, as well as the conviction a kidnapper in Kogi State earlier secured by the Service among others.
The string of successful prosecutions further underscores the effectiveness of the DSS’s intelligence-driven approach to investigating and prosecuting violent crimes. This also reaffirms the commitment of the Service in ensuring that perpetrators of kidnapping, terrorism, and related offences do not escape the full weight of the law.
Again, Kidnappers Arrested by DSS Convicted, Bag Death Sentence in Ekiti State
Soldier Shoots Suspect During Struggle After Arrest in Enugu
Soldier Detained After Allegedly Shooting Two Civilians in Borno
Again, Kidnappers Arrested by DSS Convicted, Bag Death Sentence in Ekiti State
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