I am saddened to hear the news of the death of Senator Peter Nwoboshi a few days ago. I offer my heartfelt condolences and pray ...
I am saddened to hear the news of the death of Senator Peter Nwoboshi a few days ago. I offer my heartfelt condolences and pray to Almighty God to grant his soul eternal rest and forgiveness. Senator Nwoboshi’s death is a stark reminder of the transience and fleeting nature of life. Indeed, he reportedly emphasized shortly before his passing the need for us, while alive, to rein in our excessive propensity to acquire material possessions out of covetousness and greed—especially when privileged to hold positions of public trust that could otherwise be used to change the trajectory of humanity for the better.
My path and that of Senator Nwoboshi crossed in an unpleasant and uneventful manner in 2019 when I was Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property. Acting on an intelligence report, the Panel investigated the massive estate and landed properties he had accumulated during his tenure as Chairman of the PDP in Delta State, Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Special Adviser to the Governor of Delta State, Commissioner of Agriculture and Special Duties, and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Panel was empowered to investigate public officials living beyond their legitimate earnings and in possession of assets they could not lawfully explain. Upon discreet investigation, the Panel was able to locate and identify with accuracy the properties and assets Senator Nwoboshi had acquired during his public service. Consequently, the Panel filed an action for interim forfeiture of these properties at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The investigation revealed that Senator Nwoboshi failed to declare almost 80% of his assets and did not truthfully disclose them in his Code of Conduct Assets Declaration, which every public official is required to file within three months of assuming office and upon leaving office. The case was assigned to Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division. On July 2, 2019, Justice Taiwo ordered the interim forfeiture of the assets and placed a post-no-debit order on several bank accounts linked to Senator Nwoboshi. According to the ruling, 14 properties and 22 bank accounts were to be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government. Aside from sealing the properties, the Panel also directed four banks to block Senator Nwoboshi from operating the accounts pursuant to the Court’s order. Some of the properties sealed by the Panel included: Summing Electrical Company located at Asagba along Asaba Airport Road, Asaba; PON Filling Station along Asaba Airport Road, Asaba; and a multi-billion-naira estate under construction at Maryam Babangida Road, Asaba. Others were Cartage Cinema at Okpana Road beside Rain Oil Petrol Station, Asaba; Newbridge Filling Station along Airport Road, Warri; and a house at No. 8 Monu Olanrewaju Crescent, GRA, Asaba. In Lagos, Guinea House at No. 27 Marina Road, Apapa, and a multi-billion-naira building at 41 Burma Road, Apapa, were sealed. In Abuja, House No. 25, 6932 Road, Adban Estate, Gwarimpa, and Plot 3011B Kuranakh Close, Maitama, were also sealed. The court ordered that Senator Nwoboshi or any interested party should, within 30 days, show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The case received extensive media coverage, including a report by Channels Television on July 15, 2019, and was adjourned to October 8, 2019, for further hearing. On August 11, 2019, a terse announcement was made via radio, television, and print media by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation that I had been suspended as Chairman of the Panel. Following my departure, the Federal Government directed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in collaboration with the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, to take over all the Panel’s cases. Later, rumours swirled that the Attorney General compromised the cases initiated by the Panel and returned all assets previously seized under interim forfeiture orders to their original owners.
Senator Peter Nwoboshi’s passing is a solemn reminder of the impermanence of life and the enduring importance of integrity in public service. May his soul rest in peace.
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