COURT GIVES NWAOBOSHI 30 DAYS TO PROVE OWNERSHIP OF 14 PROPERTIES OR PERMANENTLY FORFEIT THEM TO GOVT

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has approved an interim forfeiture of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi‘s properties to the Nigerian government.

The court made an initial order for the confiscation of 14 properties and 22 bank accounts linked to Senator Nwaoboshi in Zenith Bank, UBA, Access Bank and Sterling Bank, and they were all joined in the suit.

The Senator representing Delta north was given 30 days 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 order came amidst a deepening probe of Nwaoboshi’s wealth, which federal authorities alleged was ill-gotten and should be forfeited.

The senator was arraigned previously on allegations of false assets filings, but the Code of Conduct Tribunal that had powers to hear the case in Abuja threw it out, citing prosecutors’ failure to follow procedures for filing such a case.

Nwaoboshi, who was declared the winner of a second Senate run in February, has also been locked in a tough legal battle for the seat with Abuja based billionnaire politician and business lawyer, Prince Ned Nwoko.

The Supreme Court had granted an accelerated hearing in an appeal filed by Ned Nwoko against the victory of Senator Nwaoboshi at the Court of Appeal, with final judgement expected in the next few days.