Andy Uba charged to court for ‘N400m NDDC MD appointment scam’

The inspector-general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has filed a suit against Andy Uba, a former senator representing Anambra south, over allegations of fraud.

Uba is facing a two-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024 alongside two others – Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu.

The charge, dated October 8, was filed before Inyang Ekwo, judge of a federal high court in Abuja.

In count one, Uba, Crystal, Etu and one Hajiya Fatima (now at large), were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence in 2022.

They were charged with deceiving George Uboh by allegedly claiming they could secure the appointment of the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for anyone willing to pay N400 million.

Uboh had written a petition dated April 5, 2023, to the IGP stating that he had documentary and voice recording evidence.

“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,” Ubob said.

“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 prosecution has listed six witnesses to testify against the former lawmaker and other defendants in the suit.

On November 13, M.L. Anthony, prosecution counsel, told the court that the defendants had been evading the service of the court documents despite being given administrative bail.

He said the defendants obtained a fundamental rights enforcement order which had prevented the police from bringing them to court.

The lawyer said it was not until after the order was lifted that the defendants were finally charged before the court.

Ekwo adjourned the matter to February 18, 2025, for arraignment of the defendants.