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Peter Nwaoboshi

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Peter Nwaoboshi
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Delta North Senatorial District
In office
9 June 2015 – 11 June 2023
Preceded byIfeanyi Okowa
Succeeded byNed Nwoko
Chairman People's Democratic Party (Nigeria), Delta State
In office
2008–2014
Personal details
Born1958 (age 65–66)
Delta State
CitizenshipNigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Congress (2021-present)
Peoples Democratic Party (before 2021)

Peter Onyeluka Nwaoboshi (born 1958 in Delta State, Nigeria) is a Nigerian politician who served as the senator representing Delta North senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate from 2015 to 2023.[1][2][3][4][5] He was sacked shortly after being announced senator-elect during the 2019 general elections by a Federal High Court in Abuja, following allegations that he was not validly elected by his political party.[6][7][8][9] The Appeal Court in Abuja however overturned the decision on 30 May 2019. The lead judge held that the Federal High Court that nullified his election had no jurisdiction over the case.[10][11]

Personal life and education

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Peter Nwaoboshi was born in 1958 in Delta State, Nigeria.[citation needed] Nwaoboshi attended St.Thomas Teachers College where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1976.[citation needed] In 1986, he graduated from University of Benin where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws. He also has a Master of Laws from Delta State University.[citation needed]

Career

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Nwaoboshi began his career in 1979 as an aide to Samuel Ogbemudia, Governor of the defunct Bendel State. Subsequently, he was appointed chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. In 1999, he was also a political adviser to Governor James Ibori. In 2000, he was appointed Commissioner for Agriculture and Special Duties in Delta State where he served in that position till 2006. In 2008, he was appointed State Chairman of the People's Democratic Party in Delta State. He served for a second term as State Chairman in 2012 and in 2014 resigned to run for senate.[12][13][14]

In 2015, he was elected into office as a Senator representing Delta North senatorial district in the National Assembly.[15][16] He was subsequently appointed Chairman Senate committee on Niger Delta.[17] In 2019, he was re-elected into the senate under the People's Democratic Party.[18][19] On June 23, 2021, the Delta State PDP suspended Nwaoboshi for "anti-party activities after a public spat between Nwaoboshi and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.[20] Nwaoboshi called the suspension "laughable" and "illegal" before leaving the PDP two days later and joining the APC at a meeting with President Buhari and Delta Central Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.[21][22] The Punch reported that Nwaoboshi's switch was in preparation for a run for Deputy Governor of Delta State.[23]

Election dispute

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On 3 April 2019 a Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Nwaoboshi as Senator-elect for Delta North senatorial district on grounds that he was not validly nominated in the party primaries held by the People's Democratic Party in Delta State.[24] He was also ordered by Justice Ahmed Mohammed to stop parading himself as senator-elect. According to the summons filed against him by his opponent in the party primaries Prince Ned Nwoko stated that the People's Democratic party had unlawfully announced him the winner after he was defeated in the primaries, it was also alleged that Nwoboshi hired thugs to cause a mass scare and stampede when he learnt of his brewing defeat.[25][26]

On 4 April 2019, Nwaoboshi appealed to the judgement sacking him as senator-elect.[27][28] On 17 April 2019, a Federal High Court in Abuja denied Nwaoboshi's appeal to issue a restraining order to Independent National Electoral Commission stating that it was out of its jurisdiction as an Appeal court had already ruled on the case, consequently the Justice Mahmud Mohammed ordered that Independent National Electorate Commission should withdraw the certificate of return issued to Nwaoboshi and reissue a new certificate to Prince Ned Nwoko. Although he is now the Delta North Senator [29][30]

On 11 May 2019, the Independent National Electoral Commission withdrew the certificate of return issued to Nwaoboshi.[31][32][33] The certificate was returned when the court decision was overturned.

Bills sponsored

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In 2016, Nwaoboshi sponsored a bill "The Code of Conduct Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (SB 248)". The bill passed its first reading but was never signed or implemented into law.[34][35]

Corruption allegations

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₦322 million fraud and money laundering trial

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In April 2018, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Nwaoboshi on charges of fraud and money laundering. The prosecution claimed Nwaoboshi's companies bought a Lagos building for ₦805 million in 2014 with the knowledge that ₦322 million of the payment would be used illegally; Nwaoboshi denied the claims and entered a not guilty plea.[36] In June 2021, Nwaoboshi was cleared of the fraud and money laundering charges after presiding Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke said the EFCC failed to prove the charges and relied on hearsay. The EFCC said that they would appeal the decision.[37][23]

False Asset Declaration

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In April 2016, a Sahara Reporters article accused Nwaoboshi of acquiring under suspicious circumstances and then failing to disclose a Lagos property he owns. The home was owned by the Delta State Government before being sold to Nwaoboshi for a suspiciously low price and Nwaoboshi had not declared his ownership as legally required. The report came in the wake of Nwaoboshi sponsoring an amendment intended to weaken anti-corruption laws, and the article claimed that his support may have been in an attempt to stop the Code of Conduct Bureau from trying him.[38]

In June 2019, charges were filed against Nwaoboshi for failing to declare his true assets after an investigation by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) which accused Nwaoboshi of failing to disclose his ownership of three Sterling Bank accounts.[39] In July 2018, SPIP temporarily sealed several more of Nwaoboshi's assets including up to 14 properties and 22 bank accounts.[40]

NDDC contract scandal

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In June 2020, the Niger Delta Development Commission accused Nwaoboshi of using 11 front companies to defraud the Commission out of ₦3.6 billion worth of contracts in September 2016. The accusation came not long after Nwaoboshi accused Niger Delta Minister Godswill Akpabio of improperly securing project funds when Akpabio was Senate Minority Leader.[41] While the accusations were a part of a wider spat between Akpabio and the National Assembly, the accusation against Nwaoboshi was termed "biggest single case of looting of the commission’s resources" by NDDC spokesperson Charles Odili.[42]

Conviction

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The Court of Appeal on July 1, 2022, found Nwaoboshi guilty of money laundering and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment alongside two of his companies Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd. The conviction followed an appeal of the previous judgment by a Federal High Court dismissing the submission of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The Appeal Court ruled that there was merit in the application of the EFCC and that Nwaoboshi failed to convince the court that he didn't commit the crime.[43]

References

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  1. ^ "Checkout Senator Dino Melaye Controversial Dressing To National Assembly - Gistmania". www.gistmania.com. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  2. ^ "List of 83 Senators who supported Saraki in his fight against Buhari /Tinubu". ScanNews Nigeria. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Full List Of Newly-Elected Senate Members Of The National Assembly". LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS BREAKING HEADLINES NEWSPAPERS. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Sinatọ Nwaoboshi agaala mkpọrọ Ikoyi". 25 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  5. ^ Akinrogbe, Alex (1 November 2023). "3 Delta senators victorious in Appeal Court". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016: A critique". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Delta Election: What Senator Peter Nwaoboshi Said After Court Sacked Him". Concise News.
  8. ^ Adoyi, Ali (4 April 2019). "Nigerian newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Thursday morning". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Court sacks Delta PDP Senator-elect, Peter Nwaobosi, affirms Ned Nwoko as party's candidate". OAK TV. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  10. ^ "ICYMI: Appeal Court sacks Ned Nwoko, reinstates Nwaoboshi as Delta senator-elect". Punch Newspapers. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  11. ^ "BREAKING: Court Of Appeal Sacks Ned Nwoko, Reinstates Nwoboshi". Sahara Reporters. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  12. ^ "Delta 2015 and spectre of political violence". The Nation Nigeria. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  13. ^ "The Position of Urhobo Nation in 2015 General Election". Urhobo Today. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  14. ^ Asaba. "Who is Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi?". Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Who is who in the Eighth Senate". The Nation Nigeria. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  16. ^ "House reconciliation: Tinubu bounces back". National Daily Newspaper. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  17. ^ Ugwu, Chidi (25 April 2019). "FG Blacklists Contractors Over Poor Performance". Independent Newspapers Nigeria. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Most new senators may not chair committees in 9th Senate". Punch Newspapers. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  19. ^ Busari, Kemi (29 January 2019). "Despite defections, APC maintains majority in Senate". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  20. ^ "PDP 'suspends' Senator Nwaoboshi". Premium Times. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  21. ^ Onochie, Bridget Chiedu (25 June 2021). "Nwaoboshi says suspension by PDP laughable, violates constitution". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  22. ^ Edeme, Victoria (25 June 2021). "Delta Senator, Nwaoboshi, defects to APC, meets Buhari". The Punch. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  23. ^ a b Akinkuotu, Eniola; Ochei, Matthew (26 June 2021). "N322m fraud: EFCC to appeal Nwaoboshi's victory as Buhari welcomes him to APC". The Punch. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Court sacks Delta North senator-elect, Nwaoboshi". Premium Times Nigeria. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  25. ^ adekunle (3 April 2019). "Delta: Court sacks PDP Senator-elect, Nwaoboshi over illegal primary election". Vanguard News Nigeria. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Court Sacks Delta Senator-Elect, Nwaoboshi – Channels Television". Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  27. ^ "Nwaoboshi Appeals Judgement Sacking Him As Delta North Senator-Elect – Channels Television". Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  28. ^ adekunle (4 April 2019). "Nwaoboshi appeals judgment, says he remains senator-elect". Vanguard News Nigeria. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  29. ^ editor (17 April 2019). "Delta North: Nwaoboshi Fails to Stop INEC from Issuing Certificate of Return to Ned Nwoko". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 22 April 2019. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  30. ^ adekunle (17 April 2019). "Delta: Court declines to stay execution of judgment against Nwaoboshi". Vanguard News. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  31. ^ "INEC Withdraws Senator Peter Nwaoboshi's Certificate Of Return". Sahara Reporters. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  32. ^ Abiola, Rahaman (12 May 2019). "Nwaoboshi sacked as Delta senator-elect as INEC issues Nwoko return certificate". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  33. ^ Igbekoyi, Felix (11 May 2019). "INEC Drops Nwaoboshi, Issues Certificate Of Return To Nwoko". Independent Newspapers Nigeria. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  34. ^ adekunle (13 April 2016). "The 8th National Assembly and the rest of us". Vanguard News Nigeria. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  35. ^ "Senate moves to amend Code of Conduct Act". The Nation Nigeria. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  36. ^ "EFCC arraigns Sen. Nwaoboshi over alleged N805m fraud charge". Vanguard. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  37. ^ Adediran, Ifeoluwa (18 June 2021). "UPDATED: How Nigerian senator, Nwaoboshi, was cleared of N322 million fraud charges". Premium Times. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  38. ^ "Senator Who Sponsored Bill To Decriminalize Corruption Owns Guinea House In Lagos He Didn't Declare". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  39. ^ Adesomoju, Ade (20 June 2019). "FG charges Senator Nwaoboshi with false assets declaration at CCT". The Punch. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  40. ^ "Assets Forfeiture: Panel Seals Sen. Nwaoboshi's Properties". Daily Trust. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  41. ^ Ukpong, Cletus (8 June 2020). "NDDC says senator used 11 companies to secure N3.6 billion contracts from commission". Premium Times. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  42. ^ Kevin-Alerechi, Elfredah (26 June 2021). "Ex-PDP senator, accused of N3.6 billion NDDC contract scam, defects to APC". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  43. ^ "Court of Appeal convicts Senator Nwaoboshi of money laundering". Peoples Gazette. July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
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