Alleged Murder: Group Drags Senator Nwaoboshi, Others To Court

…Wants Him Disqualified As Delta North PDP Senatorial Candidate

The Senator representing Delta North District at the National Assembly, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who is currently seeking re-election, will once again face court proceedings in the state capital, Asaba, to explain the level of his involvement in the alleged murder of certain Nigerians by secret cult members in his local community, Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area.

The quest for justice for the dead victims being spearheaded by the Incorporated Trustees of Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Asaba, tagging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta and the Commissioner of Police, Delta State as 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th defendants respectively with Senator Peter Nwaoboshi as the 1st defendant.

According to a source, having examined the ‘General Form of Originating Summons’, understands that, if Senator Peter Nwaoboshi fails to distinguish himself from the suit being filed against him, he might among other consequences, forfeit his 2019 senatorial ambition as PDP’s candidate for Delta North District in February’s election.

The suit, FHC/ASB/CS/11/2019 brought before the court is orchestrated on the brutal murder of one Zakarie Saswed on the 20th of July, 2013, among several other motorcycle operators, ‘Okada Riders’, murdered within Ibusa community between the month of June to July 2013 by a secret society called First Trigger Boys (FTB), of which some of the suspects arrested have named Senator Nwaoboshi as their member and sponsor.

The disqualification of the Delta North Senatorial Candidate for the 2019 elections, by INEC is chiefly sought by the Incorporated Trustees of Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum, while also questioning the actions of PDP in presenting a candidate whose case at the Akwukwu-Igbo Judicial Division of the High Court of Justice, with charge No: O/21c/2013 – THE STATE vs. UBA NONSO & Ors demands reopening by the Attorney General of the State, obliging the Police to arrest the 1st defendant with a view of carrying out proper investigation and prosecution.

Speaking after the court proceedings overseen by Justice O.E Abang, the Counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. Omaga Edward esq. intimated journalists that, Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum is seeking the ultimate disqualification of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi from contesting INEC elections as his actions fall below the requirements of the Nigerian constitution to earn him a place in any elected office and equally, to hold to account, political office holders who engages in nefarious activities to the detriment of their constituents and Nigeria citizens.

In his words, “This is a case that borders on constitutional matters as to the qualification to contest elections in Nigeria particularly, elections into senatorial districts. Sections 65 gives you the criteria that makes you to qualify, Sections 66 gives you the criteria that can disqualify the person from contesting such an election. It is in the view of this, that the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum has brought this matter before the court, to challenge the candidature of one person who is now a sitting Senator representing Delta North senatorial district and he seeks re-election.

“The point which they are making in this court is that, the man who is seeking re-election does not qualify to seek that re-election or to even seek any election in Nigeria on the ground that he is a member of a secret society, named First Trigger Boys. These statements were made by some young men who were arrested in 2013 over the killing of motorcycle riders otherwise called Okada riders in Ibusa community in Delta State and then made confessions that, this person, ‘Senator Peter Nwaoboshi’ gave them two shot guns, that he is also a member of their secret society. The Police took that matter up, investigated it to a level, filed cases in court and stopped whatever they were doing.

“The Commissioner of Police is a party to this matter, the Attorney General to the state is also a party to this matter and we are saying as lawyers to the group that feels that the Nigeria democracy has to have some level of integrity, credibility and people should believe in it. You don’t just wake up and contest elections when you are not supposed to contest. It is on that ground that they went to court and we are here to say let that man be disqualified from the election forthwith but in the event that he contests, our order again is praying that, his seat be vacated for whosoever that is entitled to take it.”

Speaking further, Barr Omaga Edward denied any political motive in the suit filed by the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum, informing that, “this case had been filed in Abuja in November 2018 but we withdrew it because we found that the whole thing happened in Delta state here. We couldn’t have been in Abuja and it was in that wisdom that the suit is being heard in Asaba.”

The case has been adjourned to February 5, 2019 for further hearing as the prayer of the plaintiff were granted to serve concurrent writ, originating summons on INEC and PDP in Abuja.