Senator Nwaoboshi Forfeit 14 Houses And 22 Bank Accounts To Federal Government

A Nigerian Lawmaker representing Delta North senatorial district, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi has temporarily lost a huge portion of his properties and money to the Federal Government in a corruption suit level against him by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property.

Naija news gathered that the embattled lawmaker was in June referred to the Office of the Department of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel led by Chief Okoi Obono-Obla for allegedly making false assets declaration in his Form CCB1 submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

According to the latest ruling, 14 properties and 22 bank accounts linked to the senator are to be temporarily forfeited to the federal government. The Delta North senator was however given 30 days ultimatum to justify how he acquired the properties and convince the court not to grant a permanent forfeiture of the assets to the Nigerian government.

The two forfeiture order read: “That interim order is hereby made forfeiting all the property alleged belong to the 1st Respondent (Nwaoboshi) being suspicious assets or assets far and beyond the legitimate income of the 1st Respondent particularly those on the amended schedule to this application pending the investigation or motion on notice in the matter.

“That an order is hereby made restraining the 2nd-5th Respondents from posting any debt or withdrawals on all the accounts belonging to the first respondents particularly those on the amended schedule to the application attached to this order.”

The  22 bank accounts are domiciled in four different commercial banks, the forfeited properties are located in Delta, Abuja and Lagos.

Meanwhile, Chief Nwaoboshi, who was declared the winner of a second Senate run in February, has also been locked in a tough battle for the seat with Ned Nwoko, a business lawyer based in Abuja. The Supreme Court had granted an accelerated hearing in an appeal filed by Mr Nwoko against the victory of Mr Nwaoboshi at the Court of Appeal, with final judgement expected in the next few days.