Ex Anambra South Senator Andy Uba and two others have been charged to court by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun,
over alleged fraud.
FUSION CHRONICLES NIGERIA NEWSPAPER gathered that the two-count charge, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024, also lists Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu as co-defendants, with another individual, Hajiya Fatima, who is currently at large.
The charges against the trio were brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 10, 2024, after a filing was made by Abdulrashid Sidi of the Police Force Headquarters’ Legal and Prosecution Section.
Senator Uba and the other defendants were accused of conspiring in 2022 to commit fraud in the first count charge and the allegedly misled George Uboh into believing that they could secure the appointment of a Managing Director for the Niger Delta Development
“A presentation which you know is not true and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006.”
The defendants and Fatima, who is currently on the run had, in 2022 within the jurisdiction of the court, allegedly conspired amongst themselves with intention to defraud and induced George Uboh by making a presentation to him that they had perfected way to give an appointment of the post of Managing Directorship of NDDC to any interested person who could afford the sum of N400 million.
“A presentation which you know is not true. You obtained the money and converted it into your own personal use and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006,” the count read in part.
Uboh, in a letter dated April 5, 2023, and addressed to the I-G, said the petition was based on documentary and voice recording. According to Uboh, the evidence is. overwhelming and irrefutable.
At least six witnesses had been listed to testify against the Senator Uba and others. Justice Ekwo adjourned their arraignment until Feb. 18, 2025.
It was learnt that the adjournment followed a complaint by M.L. Anthony, who represents the I-G on Nov. 13, that the defendants had been escaping the service of the court documents despite being given administrative bail. Anthony told the court that they had been on the matter since 2023.
He said the Uba and others obtained a fundamental rights enforcement order which earlier prevented the police from bringing them to court.The lawyer said it was until after the order was lifted that the defendants were finally charged before the judge. Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter to allow the defendants take their plea.
