Anti-corruption agencies must refrain from media trials of any sorts as this has proven to be unconventional in the fight against corruption.
Worse is the fact that it impugns the reputation of the accused and does not in any way validate their cases in the court of law.
Playing to the gallery using propaganda and the media in cases yet to be determined by the judiciary makes a mockery of the anti -corruption bodies.
This is the aftermath of the trial of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State and Senator that represented Delta North Senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate of the 8th and 9th National Assembly, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who was acquitted by the Supreme Court, putting to bed the reckless allegations of fraud and corruption brought against him by the EFCC and other vested political interests.
Throughout his travail, Nwaoboshi trusted the legal system to acquit him of all allegations and held tenaciously to his firm belief of innocence despite the manipulations of a few individuals who felt threatened by his outspokenness and courage in exposing their shady deals, and the changing of the political formation and paradigm in the structure of politics and followership in his home state after defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Nwaoboshi, a core grassroots politician and a philanthropist has fought many battles in the past and had come out unscathed based on his forthrightness and the goodwill built over the decades in the political firmament.
His case and other cases in recent years are testimonies that indeed the commission serves narrow political interests and in a country like Nigeria, where corruption is endemic, the issue of political selectivity and vendetta is often the case especially when institutions are weak. Thus, for the fight against corruption to be effective and transparent; the EFCC must be insulated against political interference.
Media trials and persecution of former and current public office holders, by the anti-graft agency, is not only unethical but despicable and irksome and this egregious practice must be stopped immediately, because according to our laws, an accused is ‘innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.
The flagrancy and snobbery with which the anti-graft agencies carries out its operations is upsetting and it is in a manner that depicts complete disrespect for the rule of law and fundamental human rights of citizens, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
More disturbing is the selectiveness of its operations where these individual have been harassed, persecuted and prosecuted, mostly, in the “court of public opinion”, rather than procedural prosecution in competent courts of law.
This writer is optimistic that the senator does not grudge all those who have played a part in his political and legal trials but must be grateful to his Creator who provided escape and victory for him despite the conspiracies to silence him using instrument of the state
He also believes that there are times and seasons for every activity of men and that God Almighty installs and removes rulers. Some of his detractors have been humbled and more will face the consequences of natural justice.
In all, the graft allegations against him and the few companies he had interest fell flat on its face when it was subjected to an independent, superior and unsentimental jury analysis read by Justice Emmanuel Agim.
In a split decision of four-to-one, the Supreme Court set aside the conviction and sentencing to seven years imprisonment of Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi for offences of fraud and money laundering.
The apex court held that Nwaobishi and the two companies were unjustly and maliciously prosecuted by the EFCC for committing no offences known to law, who subjected them to needless criminal trial in relation to civil transaction.
The court set aside the July 1, 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which had reversed their discharge and acquittal by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The apex court, therefore, ordered his immediate release from Ikoyi prisons in Lagos, where he is currently being held.
The Supreme Court also freed the two companies – Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd – tried with him on a two-count charge brought against them by EFCC.
