‘Lawmaker to face fresh charges on alleged multi-billion naira NDDC fraud’
- I’m innocent – Nwaoboshi
There are strong indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may soon bring up fresh charges against the senator representing the Delta North district of Delta State, Peter Nwaoboshi, over alleged fraudulent practices in the award of N2.3bn contracts under the Niger Delta Development Commission.
Nwaoboshi is the Senate Committee Chairman on the NDDC.
Besides, the senator, who was the Delta State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the run up to the 2015 general elections, is under pressure to account for over N3.6bn allegedly collected from political aspirants, under his leadership.
Nwaoboshi, an ally of convicted former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, is currently standing trial before a Lagos Federal High Court, over a N322 million alleged fraud.
The Lagos court had, last month, granted the senator a N100 million bail.
He is not a free man at present, as we are still investigating him
But speaking exclusively with our correspondent, the EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said beyond the trial, the commission was not done with Nwaoboshi, as fresh charges against him were being collated, bearing on his alleged involvement in fraudulent awards of some NDDC projects.
Uwujaren said, “We are investigating Nwaoboshi of petitions which border on frauds, running into N3.6bn and many others.
“He is not a free man at present, as we are still investigating him. He was just granted bail in the sum of N100m, but other cases against him are ongoing, particularly the NDCC projects that he was involved in as Senate committee chairman on NDDC.”
‘WHERE IS THE N2.3BN FOR ROAD CONTRACT?
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that one of the major cases being investigated by the anti-graft agency, is the alleged under-hand deal in the award of the Ugbolu-Illah-Ebu Road in Delta State, which is currently in a very deplorable state.
The contract, it was gathered, was awarded for N2.3 billion, but the money was allegedly diverted to private pockets, while our correspondent observed that, at press time, there was no construction work on the road.
Some residents of the communities have tasked Nwaoboshi and other chieftains of the NDDC to explain what happened to the N2.3bn released for the project.
A community leader in the area, Chief Ifeanyi Aafidi, who spoke with our correspondent, said, “They diverted the money into their pockets; we can’t pass through the road at present, and as for Senator Nwaoboshi, we will not allow his second coming. Let all those who ‘swallowed’ the road’s money ‘vomit’ it. As you can see, we have no road, we are marooned.”
Complementing Aafidi, an elder statesman in Ilah community, Chief Nnadi Okwue, fumed, “They embezzled the funds for the construction of our road; and as for our senator who is having EFCC issues, we will never return him, as we cannot trust him again.
“And come to think of it, how do we justify having our ‘son’ as Senate chairman on NDDC and the money for the award of our road project cannot be traced?”
‘I DIDN’T BEAT UP MY PARENTS’
Also, Ibusa, his home-town, near Asaba, the state’s capital, is abuzz with stories of how as a young man, Nwaoboshi allegedly beat up his parents, thus prompting them to place curse on him.
But in a swift reaction, 60-year old Senator Nwaoboshi, who was visibly angry, dispelled the rumour that he beat up his parents while in his youth.
In an interview with our correspondent, he said, “It is not true that I used to beat up my parents; and it is not also true that I stole money from people.”
I’M NOT A THIEF-NWAOBOSHI
He said, “It is true that I bought Delta House (in Lagos). It was done legally. I served well as the state chairman of the PDP, as I initiated ideas that assisted the party. I am not a thief. My enemies are just pursuing me with (petitions to the) EFCC for nothing.
“As a distinguished senator, I have attracted meaningful development to my state, and as Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC, a lot has been done, especially on roads.”
Speaking in defence of Senator Nwaoboshi, too, the Delta State Commissioner for information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, described him as “an honest and detribalised man,” adding that “for him, 2019 will be landslide victory.”
ON HIS PREVIOUS ARRAIGNMENT
The Point recalls that last month, the EFCC arraigned Nwaoboshi for an alleged fraud of N322 million before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
He was arraigned on two-count charge, along with two firms – Golden Touch Construction Project Limited and Suiming Electricals Limited, bearing on conspiracy and money laundering.
The EFCC, in the charges, had accused Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Project Limited of purchasing a property known as Guinea House, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos for N805 million between May and June 2014.
The anti-graft agency, in the suit, averred that N322m out of the N805m, which Nwaoboshi and the firm paid for the property, was part of proceeds of “an unlawful act, to wit, fraud.”
