Apex Court grants request of Senator Nwaoboshi for his appeal to be heard earlier than November 21, 2024 being a contestant in the National Assembly Elections. Court reschedules hearing to February 9 2023
The Supreme Court has agreed to accelerate the hearing of an appeal by the lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, Peter Nwaoboshi, who was sentenced to seven years imprisonment over money laundering charges.
In a ruling on Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, granted Senator Nwaoboshi’s prayer that his appeal be brought forward and heard promptly. The Court consequently rescheduled the hearing of the appeal for February 9 2023, as against the earlier date of November 21, 2024.
Justice Ariwoola explained that Nwaoboshi’s application, having not been opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other respondents, should be granted.
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Counsel to Senator Nwaoboshi and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kanu Agabi, noted that his client was a serving Senator who is also contesting the 2023 general elections. He further noted that it was imperative that Nwaoboshi’s appeal is heard on time to prevent a situation where he is made to serve a jail term only for his appeal to succeed when it is eventually heard.
Counsel for the EFCC, Abba Mohammed and other lawyers in the case did not oppose the application, following which the court gave its ruling.
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Ojochenemi Onje-James
Ojochenemi Onje-James is a research writer and journalist with years of proven footprints in areas of crime and politics. She has a M.Sc in International Relations and Strategic Studies as well as a B.Sc in Mass Communication.
