The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Peter Nwaoboshi, was today arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged N805 million fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The senator was docked alongside two firms; Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd, on a two-count charge of money laundering and fraud.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Afterwards, EFCC’s lawyer, M. S. Abubakar, sought for a trial date.
Responding, Nwaoboshi’s lawyer, Dr. V. J. O. Azinge (SAN) drew the court’s attention to a pending motion for the bail of her client.
The request was opposed to by the EFCC’s lawyer on the ground that the motion was not ripe for hearing. He claimed the motion was just served on him on Tuesday and that the prosecution is currently filing its reply to the motion.
The matter was later stood down by the judge to allow the EFCC complete its filing processes.
In the charge No: FHC/L/117C/2018, the EFCC alleged that the accused committed the offences between May and June 2014 in Lagos.
Nwaoboshi was said to have acquired a property described as Guinea House, Marine Road, in Apapa Lagos, for the sum of N805 million when he reasonably ought to have known that N322 million out of the purchase sum formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act.
The sum was said to have been transferred to the vendors by order of Suiming Electrical Ltd.
Suiming Electrical was equally said to have on May 14, 2014, aided Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch to commit money laundering.
The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 15(2), (d) , 15 (3) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011
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