Crime
N805M Scam: Finally, Senator Nwaoboshi Rearrested, Lands In Prison
N805M Scam: Finally, Senator Nwaoboshi Rearrested, Lands In Prison
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.
RELATED STORY: Over 7,000 confirmed dead in Turkey quake
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 Rearrested, Lands In Prison
Three Men Arraigned in Lagos for Alleged Kidnapping, Theft
Three men, Azeez Sadiq, 35, Taiwo Olayinka, 30, and Monsuru Saheed, 21, were brought before an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday, facing charges of kidnapping and theft. The suspects, whose residential addresses were not disclosed, were charged with conspiracy, kidnapping, and stealing.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Christian Okonofua, the incident occurred on August 20 at around 12 p.m. near a Mobile petrol station behind F One Bar in Ikorodu, Lagos. The defendants, along with accomplices still at large, allegedly kidnapped two individuals from Ogun State and stole N13,000 from one of the victims.
Local residents apprehended the defendants and reported the matter to the police, leading to their arrest. The charges brought against them contravene Sections 411, 172, and 287 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
During the court hearing, the defendants pleaded not guilty. Magistrate O.A. Ogbe granted each defendant bail of N1 million, requiring two sureties in the same amount. One of the sureties must own landed property and provide proof of three years’ tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
The magistrate also ordered that the second charge be duplicated and forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further advice. The case was adjourned until October 3 for mention.
29-Year-Old Sentenced to 7 Years for Secret Cult Membership
A 29-year-old man, Tobiloba Ogunbo, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for being a member of a secret cult, following a ruling by the Ogun Special Cultism Court in Abeokuta.
Ogunbo, who had initially pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, involvement in an unlawful society, and causing a public disturbance, was found guilty by Magistrate O.L. Oke. The court ruled that the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to prove Ogunbo’s involvement, leading to the conviction.
The court also noted that the convict will serve his sentence without the option of a fine.
Prosecutor Inspector Olaide Rawlings told the court that Ogunbo and several associates had injured a man, identified as Mr. Anu, during a confrontation in the Sabo area of Abeokuta on January 19, 2024. Following an investigation, Ogunbo was arrested, and he confessed to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.
The charges against Ogunbo violated Sections 45(b), 34, 36, and 37 of the Secret Cults Prohibition and Special Provisions Law of Ogun 2016.
Police Nab Three Suspected Kidnappers After N3 Million Ransom in Lagos
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers involved in a ransom operation after collecting N3 million from the family of their victim.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrests to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday. According to Hundeyin, the Isashi Police Division received a distress call around noon on Tuesday, reporting the abduction of an individual by unknown assailants in the Oke Moro area of Isashi.
Responding swiftly, police officers arrived at the scene, where they rescued a 24-year-old male victim and apprehended the three suspects.
“Initial investigations revealed the suspects had beaten the victim and demanded a ransom of N2 million, which the victim’s mother paid into two separate bank accounts,” Hundeyin said. He further explained that the suspects also forced the victim to transfer N1 million from his bank account and took his three Nigerian international passports, among other valuables.
The police are continuing their investigation and are working to apprehend others involved who managed to flee the scene.
-
Business1 year agoNew Rates: ‘I borrowed money to finance this business…’ – Petroleum Marketer cries out over Non-supply of products by the NNPCL
-
Health5 months agoOnly 58,000 doctors renewed licence out of 130,000 registered doctors – MDCN
-
Entertainment2 months agoBBNaija Season 9: TAMI Duo Evicted After Low Vote Count
-
Defence & Security1 month agoOrganisers Demand IGP’s Dismissal Over Fatal Protest Crackdown
-
Defence & Security1 month ago“Defence Chief Praises Strong Inter-Service Cooperation for Operational Successes”
-
Business2 years agoNew Naira Notes: We Have No Information On The Supreme Court Ruling – CBN
-
Weather2 months agoNiMet Forecasts 3 Days Thunderstorms, Rain Nationwide
-
Opinion2 years agoAddressing Nigeria’s food security challenge through eco-friendly agriculture
