A Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) Senator representing Delta North Senatorial
District, Peter Nwaoboshi today lost temporarily his 12-storey building
at 27 Marine Road Apapa to the Federal Government.
The forfeiture order was given by Justice Abdulaziz Anka of the Federal High Court in Lagos .
The court order
was sequel to an application filed before the court by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, George
Chia-yakua, against Senator Nwaoboshi and his two companies; Golden
Touch Construction Project Limited, and Bilderberg Enterprises Limited.
In urging the
court to grant the application, Chia-yakua, told the court that the
application was pursuant to section 44(2)(k) of the constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended), and Section 28 and 29 of
the EFCC (establishment) Act 2004.
The EFCC counsel
further told the court that the Commission received a petition from an
anti-corruption group, ‘Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum’, against
the senator and his Companies on alleged money laundering.
The EFCC in an
affidavit by Garuba Yusuf Abubakar stated it carried out investigations
at the Code of Conduct Bereau Abuja, banks, Delta State Governor’s
office, Delta State Tenders Board, Nigeria Customs Service, Lagos State
Ministry of Lands, Federal Inland Revenue Services, and Corporate
Affairs Commission (CAC).
The commission said its aim was to trace the movement of
funds suspected to be proceeds of illegal activities, source of funds,
and the beneficiaries.
The deponent
stated that sometimes in 2010, the Tender Board of Delta State awarded a
contract to the Senator’s company Bilderberg Enterprises Limited to
buy new construction equipment for Delta State Direct Labour Agency, at
the sum of N1. 58 billion.
But rather than buying new equipment, Nwaoboshi’s company
imported and supplied used equipment to the agency , while the Delta
State government fully paid for new one.
The deponent
further stated that upon investigation, it was revealed that the Senator
moved the proceeds to various accounts linked to him, and his company
bought the said 12 storey building formerly known as Guinea House,
located at 27 Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos at the sum of N805 million, with
the use of his company, Golden Touch Construction Project Limited.
The Secretary to Delta State government confirmed the sale of the building to the Senator’s company.
He also stated
that the Senator completed and submitted the Code of Conduct Bureau
Asset Declaration Form on June 19, 2015, where he stated that he
acquired the said Guinea House, Apapa, by being a Director in the Golden
Touch Construction Projects Limited.
When the EFCC team wrote to Corporate Affairs Commission
CAC seeking information on the directors of the company, it was
revealed that the Senator is neither a shareholder or director in the
company, while the purported directors and shareholders, Nwanbuoku Ike
and Emma Ekpon denied their directorship.
The deponent
also averred that further investigation revealed that the Senator has 20
bank accounts as shown by his Bank Verification Number (BVN), while
his private companies have 23 accounts.
Justice Anka
after listening to the submission of the EFCC counsel, ordered that the
12 storey building located at 27 Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos be
temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government pending the outcome of
EFCC investigation.
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