Former Senator Peter Nwaoboshi is facing new legal challenges as the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has filed a three-count charge against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charges include defamation, cyberstalking, and threats to the life of Senator Ned Nwoko, who currently represents Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
This development follows a series of legal battles for Nwaoboshi. In July 2022, the Court of Appeal in Lagos convicted him on charges of fraud and money laundering, sentencing him to seven years in prison.
However, in July 2023, the Supreme Court overturned this conviction, ordering his immediate release from Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos.
The current charges pertain to allegations that Nwaoboshi defamed and cyberstalked Senator Nwoko, as well as issued threats against his life.
As the case proceeds, it will be important to monitor the legal process to understand the implications for Nwaoboshi and the broader political landscape in Delta State.
The case, registered as Charge No. FHC/ABJ/02/21/2025, lists the IGP as the complainant and Senator Nwaoboshi as the defendant.
According to the petitioner, Senator Ned Nwoko, the alleged offenses occurred on or about July 22, 2023, in Delta State, within the jurisdiction of the court.
It is claimed that on or about 22, July 2023, during a press briefing following his release from prison, Senator Nwaoboshi made defamatory remarks, accusing Senator Nwoko of bribing judges with $1.5 million and promising to facilitate the elevation of one of them to the Supreme Court.
The charges, which center on allegations of cyberstalking, defamation, and threats to life, are expected to be heard in court in the coming weeks.
According to the Charge Sheet cited by The Story, Charge One, reads: “Senator Prince Ned Munnir Nwoko caused your incarceration in prison custody by offering a bribe of $1.5 million to judges and a promise to ensure the elevation of one to the Supreme Court.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has accused Senator Nwaoboshi of inciting a breakdown of law and order and posing a threat to the life and safety of Senator Ned Munir Nwoko.
The IGP alleged that Nwaoboshi made false statements, which were widely disseminated across various social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Digital TV, and mainstream media, reaching audiences in Abuja, Lagos, Delta, and other parts of Nigeria.
The prosecution claimed that Nwaoboshi knew or had reason to believe these statements were false.
His actions are said to constitute an offense contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
Count 2 reads: “That you, Peter Nwaoboshi ‘m’ 66 years of Isieke Umuekea, Delta State on or about 22nd day of July 2023 at Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court while addressing the press and your well-wishers on the occasion of your release from prison and with intent to cause enmity breakdown of law and order and threat to life and reputation of Senator Ned Munnir Nwoko falsely uttered and caused to be published the following false statements.
“I challenge him, (Ned Nwoko) to go to Court…in this Delta North, we have two religions, Christian religion and traditional religion. It is an aberration for us to see what we are seeing.
“He went on to give $1.5 million to send me to incarceration $1.5 million, they have the money because I will come out …. and I am challenging him if he is denying it, with the justices he planned it with, I know them, one of them was promised that he will go to Supreme Court, he will never near that that Supreme Court as long as I live in this town…… on the 2nd of July last year the man they used in doing all the rubbish could not hide… He confessed to me and told me how they planned it and begged me to forgive him.
“He confessed to me, I have his number on my phone, he called and confessed and how they carried the money. Why will it take you to go and put me incarceration for one year and six days because you want to win an election…”
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) stated that Senator Nwaoboshi made statements he knew or had reason to believe were false, emphasizing that such actions constitute an offense contrary to Section 24(1)(a) and (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
In Count 3, Senator Nwaoboshi is accused of granting an interview to an online TV program titled “Great Minds in Politics” with the intent to incite enmity, promote a breakdown of law and order, foster hatred, and pose a threat to the life of Senator Ned Munir Nwoko.
During the interview, he allegedly made and facilitated the publication of the following false statements.
“I approached Okowa,.I said I wanted to bring the whole people of Delta North together, whoever had annoyed you or you have quarrel with forget about it, it is Ned Nwoko and I went to Ned Nwoko’s house and told Ned that the problem between you and Okowa,Ā I want to settle it.
“He said his own side of the story and I went to Okowa’s house in GRA in Asaba there I said I want us , you are looking for something for whatever it is worth, I want us to go to Ned Nwoko’s house.
“He resisted it I said No, you must listen to my advice. Subsequently he agreed and I said today call Ned and told him I was bringing Okowa to his house, he said. I told him I was coming with him. I drove Okowa from his house to Ned Nwoko’s house and brought peace between the two of them.
“It is because you cannot dispute facts that are there. Before thenhas been trying to…. Because he lost election to Okowa in the Senate he had tried to involve Okowa and Hilary in all this case of arms this thing and trying to hook Okowa with all this criminal thing … it is not hidden, I have said it NED NWOKO is the main man himself and MALAMI.
“Malami S.A on the 2nd of July, called me in the phone and apologized to.me“.
He emphasized that the statement made and published by Senator Nwaoboshi went viral across various platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Digital TV, mainstream media broadcasts, and other social media channels, reaching audiences in Abuja, Lagos, Delta, and other parts of Nigeria, as well as viewers worldwide.
It is alleged that Nwaoboshi knew or had reason to believe the statement was false, thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
The case will feature two key star witnesses, along with any other relevant witnesses, to assist the Inspector General of Police in proving his case beyond a reasonable doubt.
