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
Crime
Troops neutralise two suspected terrorists in ambush along Aulari–Kawuri axis in Borno
Troops neutralise two suspected terrorists in ambush along Aulari–Kawuri axis in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have neutralised two suspected terrorists during a night ambush along the Aulari–Kawuri road ahead of Forward Operating Base Aulari in Borno State.
A military source told the Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 2:15 a.m. on March 31 after surveillance cameras sighted two suspected terrorists moving along the route towards Yale forest axis.
The source said troops of 202 Battalion swiftly engaged the targets after confirmation of hostile intent, resulting in the neutralisation of both suspects.
According to him, the operation was part of ongoing efforts to deny terrorists freedom of movement along key routes within the theatre of operations.
He added that troops patrol operations continue to prevent further infiltration by terrorist elements.
Troops neutralise two suspected terrorists in ambush along Aulari–Kawuri axis in Borno
Crime
Troops arrest suspected drug peddlers in Delta raid operation
Troops arrest suspected drug peddlers in Delta raid operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 3 Battalion (Rear), in collaboration with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested two suspected drug peddlers during a raid operation in Warri metropolis, Delta State.
A military source told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 3:00 p.m. on March 31 at suspected drug hideouts in Ugborode, Agbarho, Uti communities, Airport Road and Ekpan general area.
The source said the joint team acted on credible intelligence targeting illicit drug distribution points within the metropolis.
He added that two suspects were arrested during the operation, while assorted illicit drugs and substances suspected to be cannabis sativa and codeine syrup were recovered.
According to him, the suspects and recovered items were handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.
The source said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to curb drug abuse and related criminal activities in Delta State.
He reaffirmed the commitment of security agencies to sustain joint operations aimed at maintaining law and order across the Niger Delta region.
Troops arrest suspected drug peddlers in Delta raid operation
Crime
3 civilians killed as troops contain escalation, restore calm in Jos after unrest spreads to flashpoints
3 civilians killed as troops contain escalation, restore calm in Jos after unrest spreads to flashpoints
By: Zagazola Makama
Three civilians have been confirmed dead following a wave of unrest that spread across multiple communities in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau, before troops and other security agencies intervened to restore calm.
Security sources said the violence, which erupted on April 1, was a spillover from the March 29 attack on commuters and residents around Angwan Rukuba Junction along the Jos–Bauchi highway.
The initial incident had heightened tensions in the area, with fears of reprisals, which later manifested into coordinated disturbances in parts of Jos metropolis.
According to the sources, the unrest began at about 9:30 a.m. in Nasarawa area of Jos North and quickly escalated, spreading to other volatile locations including Katako Junction, Farin Gada, Gada Biu, Angwan Rogo, Rikos and adjoining communities.
“The situation deteriorated rapidly as hoodlums took advantage of the tension to cause mayhem, attacking properties and attempting to ignite further violence across the affected areas,” the source said.
Troops drawn from Headquarters 3 Division Nigerian Army, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), and other special forces, alongside personnel of sister security agencies, were immediately deployed to the flashpoints.
The swift and coordinated response, according to security officials, helped to contain the disturbances before they could degenerate into widespread communal clashes.
“The troops responded decisively and were able to stabilise the situation across the affected locations. Their presence prevented further escalation and restored relative calm in the metropolis,” the source added.
During the operations, security forces foiled several attempts by miscreants to set ablaze some places of worship, particularly in Katako Junction, Angwan Rogo and along Bauchi Road.
Despite the success in containing the unrest, three civilians lost their lives in the course of the disturbances. Their corpses were evacuated to medical facilities, while normalcy has gradually returned to the affected areas.
Following the restoration of calm, troops have maintained a strong presence across Jos metropolis, conducting aggressive patrols and surveillance operations to deter further breakdown of law and order.
The deployment has also been extended to neighbouring local government areas, including Jos South, Riyom and Bassa, where security presence has been reinforced.
Residents in the affected communities have expressed cautious relief as normal activities gradually resume, though tension remains in some quarters.
Security authorities assured that the situation is under close monitoring and urged residents to remain law-abiding, avoid spreading unverified information, and cooperate with security agencies.
In a related development, troops also recorded operational success in rural parts of the state.
At about 2:30 p.m. on April 1, security operatives responding to reports of cattle rustling in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area engaged suspected rustlers heading towards Farin Lamba in Riyom LGA.
The criminals, upon contact with troops, abandoned 30 rustled cows and fled into nearby bushes. The livestock were recovered and handed over to their rightful owner.
Security sources noted that routine patrols have been intensified across the Joint Operations Area to safeguard critical national infrastructure, schools, markets and places of worship.
They reiterated commitment to sustaining peace and preventing any resurgence of violence in Plateau and its environs.
3 civilians killed as troops contain escalation, restore calm in Jos after unrest spreads to flashpoints
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