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Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP Delta North) got a reprieve from arrest and other punitive actions being planned against him by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) for recovery of public property.
A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice J. T. Tsoho, granted an order directing that the status quo as at May 31, 2019, be maintained in respect of alleged non-declaration of assets for which the SPIP has been investigating Nwaoboshi.
Upon the motion ex parte dated June 8, 2019 but filed on June 10, 2019, the court ordered that the status quo as at May 31,2019, in respect of the matter be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating motion on notice. The suit was adjourned to June 25, 2019 for hearing.
In the originating motion, Nwaoboshi had asked the Court for an order of interim injunction restraining the SPIP and its Chairman, Okoi Obono-Obla or their agents, from continuing to harass, intimidate, threaten and or disturb the applicant over the matter.
The notice to declare assets dated September 15, 2018 was served on the applicant’s gateman, one Suleiman Abubakar at No 25, 6932 Road, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja on Monday, June 3, 2019.
Titled: Investigation Activities: Invitation Letter, the notice dated June 6, 2019 was served the same date on the Applicant’s Personal Assistant, one Ken Ifeanyichukwu, at his residence pending hearing and final determination of Nwaoboshi’s originating application.
The SPIP had last Monday asked the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF) to commence prosecution of Nwaoboshi over alleged failure to declare his assets when he was given an asset declaration form to fill during his interrogation by the panel.
Nwaoboshi was alleged to have corruptly enriched himself and abused his position as Chairman, Senate Committee of the NDCC through award of multi-billion Naira contracts to companies linked to him but failed to execute the projects.
According to the SPIP, Nwaoboshi refused to declare his assets before the panel after lawful demand by the panel, insisting, “This refusal is contrary to and punishable under section 3 (i) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act 2004.
