The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, the nod to arraign a former lawmaker for Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Andy Uba, on a two-count charge bordering on alleged N400million fraud.
The court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, fixed February 18, 2025, to take the plea of the defendant following an allegation that he defrauded one Mr. George Uboh, whose petition to the police led to the charge.
Equally cited as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024, which was filed before the court on October 10, are; Crystal Chidinma Uba and Benjamin Etu.
Specifically, the IGP alleged that the defendants, alongside one Hajiya Fatima who was said to be at large, had sometimes in 2022, conspired and defrauded the complainant.
The former lawmaker and his co-defendants were accused of obtaining by false pretence, by making a presentation to Mr. Uboh that they had perfected way to secure the position of the Managing Directorship of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for any person that could afford the sum of N400 million.
The prosecution told the court that the defendants knew that the claim they made in the presentation was not true.
They were said to have 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.
More so, in the count-two of the charge, the IGP alleged that the defendants and Fatima (at large), had in 2022, conspired amongst themselves with intention to defraud, induced Uboh with a presentation that they had perfected a way to give an appointment of the post of MD of the NDDC to who could afford the N400m.
The defendants were said to have obtained the money and converted it into their 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.
Processes before the court indicated that Uboh had in a letter dated April 5, 2023, and addressed to the IGP, detailed how he was allegedly defrauded.
The petition was said to have been supported by both documentary evidence and voice recordings.
According to Uboh, “Andy Ubah stated unequivocally to me that he has perfected a way to give NDDC Managing Directorship to any candidate who brings N400,000,000.
“That if the appointment does not occur, he will refund the money.
“I nominated my sister, Honourable (Engr.) Doris Uboh, who by profession is qualified to be NDDC MD.
“Andy Ubah provided two accounts and instructed a transfer of N200,000,000 each into the accounts.
“I instructed another sister of mine, Princess Engr. Ify Akanmode, who is a business partner and whose account I had some funds, to do the transfers.
“Till date, Andy Ubah has promised to pay and has not,” the petitioner alleged.
The prosecution said it has more than six witnesses that are lined up to testify in the matter.
However, police prosecutor, Mr. M. L. Anthony, told the court that he has not been able to effect personal service of the charge on the defendants.
He alleged that the defendants, who are currently on administrative bail, have been evading service of the charge on them.
The prosecuting counsel decried that the defendants could not be charged to court since 2023 owing to a fundamental right enforcement suit they filed to halt their trial.
He said the instant charge was filed after a restraining order that was obtained by the defendants, was vacated.
After he had listened to the prosecution, trial Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter to take the plea of the defendants.
