The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered the
temporary seizure of a 12-storeyed building belonging to the senator
representing Delta North Senatorial District, Peter Nwaoboshi, over an alleged
contract scam of N1.5bn.
The said building which the court ordered the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission to seize from Nwaoboshi, a Peoples Democratic Party
member, is located at 27, Marine Road, Apapa.
Justice Abdulaziz Anka made the seizure order after
entertaining an ex parte application brought before him on Monday by the
anti-graft agency.
Joined with Nwaoboshi in the application were his two
companies — Golden Touch Construction Project Limited, and Bilderberg
Enterprises Limited.
The EFCC told the judge that Nwaoboshi, through his company,
Bilderberg Enterprises Limited, got a N1.580bn contract to supply some
construction equipment to the Delta State Direct Labour Agency sometime in
2010.
The anti-graft agency, however, claimed that Nwaoboshi’s
company supplied second-hand equipment to the agency while he actually
collected money to supply new equipment, thereby short-changing the agency.
The EFCC claimed that Nwaoboshi later used the proceeds of
the alleged scam to bid for and purchase the 12-storeyed building, formerly
known as Guinea House, for the sum of N805m in the name of his company, Golden
Touch Construction Project Limited.
Arguing the ex parte application on Monday, the EFCC’s lawyer,
George Chia-Yakua, said it was in the interest of justice to order the
temporary seizure of the building pending the outcome of investigation and
criminal trial of Nwaoboshi and his companies.
He said the seizure order being sought was compliant with
Section 44(2)(k) of the constitution and sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC
(Establishment) Act 2004.
After listening to the lawyer, the judge ordered the
temporary forfeiture of Nwaoboshi’s building.
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