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The senator representing Delta North senatorial district, James Nwaoboshi, who was convicted on July 1, 2022 on a two-count charge of fraud and money laundering, is staging a comeback to the National Assembly.
In a trial prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Nwaoboshi was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal and his two companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Limited and Suiming Electrical Limited, were to be wound up in line with Section 22 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2021.
However, just before the sentencing, Nwaoboshi claimed he was suffering from an undisclosed illness and was “admitted” at the National Hospital in Abuja, while his counsel Kanu Agabi SAN, a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), filed an appeal against the conviction and hearing was slated for November 24, 2024.
Agabi passionately urged the court to fastrack the hearing of his client on the grounds that the serving senator may be made to complete the jail term before his innocence or otherwise is determined by the Apex Court.
With no objection to the request by EFCC and other parties, the Supreme Court on Thursday revised the hearing on the application to February 9, 2023, less than three weeks before the National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on February 25.
A source who is aware of the situation told TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) that Senator Nwaoboshi was making frantic efforts to return to the Senate as he had already secured the ticket of the All Progressives Party (APC), to represent the Delta North senatorial district in the forthcoming elections.
However, some members of his constituents under the umbrella of Concerned Anioma Patriots (CAP) have said that the district has been denied representation in the last six months as a result of Nwaoboshi’s disappearance from public space.
Coordinator of the group Iwebelua Fred Nwaokolo, has urged the Federal Government to disclose the whereabouts of the embattled senator.
“It is a curious paradox that a senatorial zone with highest number of local government areas in the state and endowed with eminently accomplished personalities has been without a representative,” Nwaokolo said.
The Director-General of Senator Nwaoboshi’s Campaign Organization Moses Kamanya, said during the party’s rally held in the state that the campaign for the re-election of Senator Nwaoboshi had been fully wired and activated.
Kamanya said that truth is like the Sun that can never be covered with the hands, and no matter the circumstances surrounding the embattled Senator, supporters should expect more dividends from his stewardship when they re-elect him to continue serving them in 2023.
Despite his conviction, Senator Nwaoboshi is eulogised by his people for ensuring the Inclusion of Ndokwa Nation into the Amnesty international Programme and for sponsoring the Amendment of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC Act), thereby generating more funds for development in the region.