Like late Saddam Hussein of Iraq, would say :”The forces of evil would carry their coffins on their backs, die in disgraceful failure. ” Senator Ned Nwoko, presently representing Delta North Senatorial District in the NASS has dragged a former Senator, Peter Nwaoboshi, to Abuja Federal High Court over derogatory statements. The matter is on character assassination and lies against Ned Nwoko by Peter Nwaoboshi.
Ned Nwoko, who is a known statesman has filed a suit putting forward that Peter Nwaoboshi, who was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Court of Appeal, Lagos, on a two count charge based on money laundering levelled against him as the one who caused his imprisonment.
Peter Nwaoboshi, in a public outburst stated that Ned Nwoko and the former Attorney General of the Federation conspired to imprison him. It was on record that Peter Nwaoboshi spent nothing less than one year in prison because of one billion naira loan he said he was not involved in.
The crucial point of the lawsuit centers on Nwaoboshi’s public statements after his release from prison, during which he made derogatory remarks about Senator Ned Nwoko and the judiciary. He implied that Nwoko had bribed judges to secure his imprisonment.
The lawsuit also raised that, Nwaoboshi, in one of his interviews claimed that Ned Nwoko paid the sum of $1.5 million to judges to put him in prison. Such unsubstantiated statements according to the suit, were derogatory not only towards Senator Ned Nwoko but also towards the integrity of the judiciary itself.
In an interview with The Nation newspaper, Nwaoboshi was quoted as saying that during his legal proceedings, they had influenced justices with funds from the Paris Club, offering one of the justices an appointment in the Supreme Court of Nigeria to sway the judgment in their favour.
Nwaoboshi’s accusations could inadvertently create skepticism regarding the trustworthiness of judges, insinuating that they can be easily swayed by external influences. This raises concerns about the broader implications of his statements on the judicial system and the public’s perception of its integrity.
In the suit, Senator Ned Nwoko argued that, Nwaoboshi linking him to his many legal travails is a malicious scheme to inflame passion against him (Ned) in the desperation that doing so will aid his quest to nullify the last senatorial election on 25 February 2023 which heldwhile he (Nwaoboshi) was incarcerated.
Senator Ned Nwoko is seeking, “The sum of N500, 000, 000, 000. 00 (five hundred billion naira) damages for defamation of character.”
“AN ORDER directing the defendant to publish an open apology in at least two (2) newspapers circulating nationwide, to the claimant.”
“AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant either by himself or through his privies further defaming the name, character and person of the claimant through any medium whatsoever or verbally.”
Senator Ned Nwoko is also seeking, “ANY other suitable legal or equitable reliefs as the court may deem necessary.”
Ned Nwoko is also pressing Nwaoboshi to provide specific details. He insists that Nwaoboshi must name the judges involved in the alleged misconduct, particularly the one he vowed to stop from being promoted to the Supreme Court.
It is a well known fact that Ned represents a proven, committed and experienced leadership that can reinvent government to help solve the real problems facing Delta Northerners today. Ned is a leader that will provide more opportunities for the citizens of Delta North and create a greater sense of community for Delta North Senatorial Area. He is a leadership that tackles, headlong the problems today in Delta North while laying a better foundation for their future. The advent of those that represented the area as Senators before the coming of Ned has brought abject poverty and misery for vast majority of Delta Northerners.
The man Ned Nwoko, an International Lawyer and a Philanthropist, who hails from Idumuje Ugboko, Delta North Senatorial District Area and from a royal family, represented Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003. He is not new in the political arena in Delta State and Nigeria in general. As a member of the House of Representatives, he attracted lots of Federal projects to Delta State, which include the dualization of Benin/Asaba expressway, construction of Police Headquarters, Asaba, construction of NTA, Asaba. His efforts brought the inclusiion of many primary schools in Aniocha/ Oshimili constituency in the Universal Basic Education. Amongst other projects attracted by Ned, while in the House of the Representatives were the renovation and facelift of Abuanor Primary School, Ogwashi -Uku, Abuedo Primary School, Ubulu- Uku, Ani-Nshi Primary School, Ogwashi- Uku, Ugwu-Atakpo Primary School, Ibusa, Agbogidi Primary School, Akwukwu-Igbo, Eki Primary School, Ukwunzu, Ugboko Primary School, Idumuje-Ugboko, Ebune Primary School, Issele-Uku, Anidinma Primary School, Onicha- Ukwu, Nke Eze Primary School, Ugbodu, Asagba Primary School, Asaba.
It was Ned, that initiated the Ogwashi-Uku Dam Project, for both irrigation and water supply to the large part of Delta North. He single handedly financed the study and design of the dam project. Ned facilitated the connections of many communities to the National Grids, which included Ogwashi-Uku, and Ukala-Okpunor. As a Philanthropist, in 1999, he was the first to donate his furniture allowance to indigent students in 32 secondary school students and 32 undergraduates benefited from his scholarship). The students were presented with N30,000 and N60,000 cheques respectively. Today, Ned is proud he has over 270 students in his scholarship scheme and he has continued the programme as more students are being included on regular basis. Because Ned is a factor that cannot be relegated in the political equation of Delta State, in view of his political track records and grassroots supports, the people of Delta North Senatorial Constituency supported his 2023 Senatorial election overwhelmingly. Ned, who was born on December 21, 1960, into the Royal family of Nwoko, had his primary and secondary education in ldumuje-Ugboko, from where he proceeded to Abbot Boys’ High, lhiala, lmo State. He was a student of the school from 1974 to1979, where he passed his School Certificate Examination with very good grade. Arising from his love for education and not wanting to waste time awaiting his life ambition, he went into College of Education, Benin City, Edo State, for the Nigeria Certificate for Education and in his usual characteristics, came out again with flying colours. In his quest for academic excellence and the zeal to excel, he proceeded to obtain his first degree with double honours in Law and History from the University of Keel, London, with subsidiary subjects in Biology and American Studies. He later moved into the prestigious Kings College University of London, here he performed excellently to bag the LL.M degree in Maritime Insurance and commercial Law. He then proceeded to lnns of Court School of Law, London, to obtain his Barrister at Law(BL), to become a member of the International Acclaimed Lincoln’s Inn. He later joined Crown Prosecution Service, London.
Not satisfied as a Prosecutor, he re qualifies as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, having gone through to the Qualifying Law Transfer Test(QLGL). He was Legal Assistant in Kummarz Solicitors, Ealing, London. He was partner in Pascaldies and Co Solicitors, London, where he was in charged of Commercial and Civil Litigations. Today, he is Principal Legal Practitioner in Ned Nwoko Chamber, London, one of the leading foremost prestigious chambers in London. As a legal practitioner, hear made his landmark in the field of law. Hence in 1995, he was awarded the best black lawyer of the year. Besides this, he received many other awards amongst which were: National Awards of Excellency by Law Students Association of Nigeria(LAWSAN),2003, Distinguished Leadership Role Award by People, State and Resources (PRS) Magazine, 2003
He further received African Leadership Excellence Gold Award 2002 by Leadership Watch lnternational, Certificate of Merit/Award by Aniocha North Local Government Council, Delta State,2002, Certificate of Endorsement by Anioma Youth Forum, Grand National Distinction Achievements Award by PDP National Grassroot Forum, Certificate of Endorsement by National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS). As a result of his distinguished performance he was at various times appointed or elected Secretary General, Nigeria Legal Practitioners, United Kingdom, elected member of the Law Society, England and Wales, Legal Adviser to Nigerian Liberal Party, Europe, Visiting Adviser , Citizens Advise Bureau, London, Legal Adviser to Nigerian Government at the United Nation/ lnternational Court of Justice on Bakassi Boundary Dispute and at the Human Rights Commission Geneva, Adviser to Executive Secretary, ECOWAS, Adviser to Ghana Government, Political Adviser to Malian Embassy, Political Adviser to Gambian Embassy, Political Adviser to Moroccan Embassy, Political Adviser to Liberian Embassy, Political Adviser to lvorian Embassy. Also he is a Legal Consultant to many government parastatals and agencies. As a believer in knowledge and achievement of human understanding, he wrote two books entitled-TIME FOR ALL HANDS TO BE ON DECK and CRIMINAL LAW PROCEDURE IN ENGLAND and WALES. Furthermore, he has authored more than twenty articles for the advancement of knowledge and capacity building of the populace.
Amongst these articles were: THE JURY SYSTEM, A CASE FOR NIGERIA, RACE DISCRIMINATION LAW IN ENGLAND, REVIEW OF THE PROVISION OF THE POLICE AND CRIMINAL EVIDENT ACT 1984, ADVICE ON ARREST, DETENTION, APPEALS, PROCEDURE, JUDICIAL REVIEW AND DEPORTATION, LEGAL AID etc However he was the Leader of the Millinium Group. Consequent upon his performance in the House, President Olusegun Obasanjo then was always proud to have him in his entourage during most of his foreign tours. He was the most travelled member of the House with Obasanjo. As a member of the house, Ned served in various House Committees, amongst which were: Chairman, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, member, Defence Committee, member Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Standing Committee that drafted the House Rules. As a House member, he was the 2nd highest sponsor of bills, amongst which were Minimum Wage Bill,Monetization Bill(which Federal and State workers are enjoying today), Anti _ Corruption Bill, that gave rise to EFCC, which today is adjudged to be sanitising the society, Bill for the regulation of the activities of Motorcycle riders(Okada) in Nigeria, a bill for the prohibition of expensive burial rites in Nigeria, Federal Road Modification bills etc. On Federal projects, Ned Nwoko worked tenaciously to attract a lot of projects to his constituency.
During his tenure in office as a member of the House of Representatives, he took traditional rulers and leaders from his constituency to meet with President Obasanjo then, to make a case for his constituency to be included in the Oil Producing Communities of the Niger Delta, because it has been proven that oil was abundant in that area. This gesture has given rise to the approvals for the establishments of the School of Technology and Refinery in Isheagu, Aniocha South Local Area, Delta State. It is imperative to mention here that inspite of the above contributions, he made to enhance the quality of life of the people in his constituency, he also used his personal resources in the advancement of peoples’ welfare irrespective of tribes or religion. Little wonder the youths nicknamed him ” HONOURABLE AKA HAUSA”. An acronym for unbridled generosity. In his altruistic and philanthropic nature, he made several donations to many churches, religious organizations, clubs, development unions. For instance, he donated N350,000 to St Michael’s Catholic Church, Okpanam, N500,000 to Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, Ogwashi-Uku, N500,000 to St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ogwashi-Uku, N500,000 to St Charles’s Catholic Church, Ubulu-Uku, N500,000 to St Mark’s Anglican Church, Ubulu-Uku, N1Million to St Paul’s Catholic Cathedral, lssele- Uku, N500,000 to St Leo Meriscodiac Catholic Church, Ashaka, 500,000 to Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Kwale, N500,000 to St John the Baptist’s Catholic church, Boji-Boji, Agbor, N500,000 to Christ De Lord’s Catholic Church, ldumuje-Ugboko, N500,000 to St Matthew’s Anglican Church, ldumuje-Ugboko, Nlmillion to Central Mosque, Asaba, Nlmillion to St Joseph Pro-Cathedral Catholic Church, Asaba, N200,000 to Cherubim and Seraphim Church, ldumuje-Ugboko, N1million for the building of a befitting Palace for the Obi of ldumuje- Ugboko.
