LAGOS JULY 6TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Reactions have continue to trail Abuja Division of the Federal High Court approval for an interim forfeiture of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi‘s properties to the Nigerian government.
The court had made an initial order for the confiscation of 14 properties and 22 bank accounts linked to Mr Nwaoboshi on Tuesday. The bank accounts were traced to Zenith Bank, UBA, Access Bank and Sterling Bank, and they were all joined in the suit, the temporary forfeiture order seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed.
The Delta North senator 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 Mr Nwaoboshi’s wealth, which federal authorities argued was ill-gotten and should be forfeited.
The senator was arraigned previously on allegations of false assets filings, but the tribunal that had powers to hear the case in Abuja threw it out, citing prosecutors’ failure to follow procedures for filing such a case.
Reacting to the court order, Okokodem accused Nwaoboshi of being unique in amassing wealth that has questionable origin?
He stated that while he would not take any position in his defense, he would however ask why he was targeted.
According to him, “ When we allow people claiming to represent our various interests in the National Assembly to pay themselves as much money as they are capable of hauling away, we shouldn’t act surprised to see them flaunt their loot. Again, my question is, why just him and not everyone else who is just as guilty? When you single out some people for investigation and prosecution, while you let others guilty of the same offense go free, you are as morally bankrupt as the people you are prosecuting.”
Frank Bassey in his reaction however said the action was a biased one executed to intimidate those in opposition.
“He is Igbo. To make things worse, he is opposition PDP. Patience Jonathan’s account frozen, Olisah Metu’s accounts frozen, Diezani Madueke’s account frozen. But Grass Cutter man’s account is not frozen. The account of Hair Dresser Aisha Buhari whose aide robbed her of millions of embezzled funds is not frozen. This is Nigeria. If your state refuses RUGA Fulani settlements, your bank accounts are liable to be frozen,” he stated.
However, a commentator who wants to be called Action Group described Senator Nwaoboshi as corruption personified who in Jonathan’s era never executed any project, stressing that nemesis is just catching up with him.
“He was not singled out by the Federal Government, but the jobs he left unexecuted are the ones chasing him. Government is a continuum and must ensure execution of all contracts or refund of government monies collected by him through the courts. This is not a tribal or religious issue.”
Mr Mike in his reaction wondered why some Nigerians love defending suspected looters based on party affiliation and tribal sentiments?
Hear him, “For God’s sake, this man can adequately defend himself, so what’s your own gripe? Let people accused of things go there and defend themselves. Why would you want to use your data to launch any feeble and ludicrous attempt to defend them on the internet?
“If you have any evidence against anybody else that you know, why not approach law enforcement agencies with your evidence and let’s see how that pass out? Nwaoboshi can defend himself very adequately. He doesn’t need internet conspiracy theorists to start conjuring all kinds of ludicrous conjectures to defend him.”
A Keen Observer pointed out that if anyone know or can access the damages Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has done to Delta state people during all those eight years and beyond when Chief James Onanefe Ibori held sway as Delta state government many people would desist from making biased comments regarding Buhari chasing only opposition members.
“The contracts Delta state government awarded to Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, the ones he grabbed the contract money and just walked away, the numerous contracts he started and abandoned, and the ones he sub standardly executed that has caused serial deaths and continual suffering to the good people of Delta state which directly has impacted and is currently impacting the lives of Delta people. No one will defend him.
Former governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan should be the next on queue for chasing, investigation, loots recovery and forfeiture. Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is better start thinking about himself because “..When one enjoys eating the head of a Chimpanzee, he should remember his own head too. We are getting closer to a healthy and competitive Nigeria. Absolute crisis and infighting is required to get there,” he stated.