Court to arraign Andy Uba over ‘N400m scam’ March 5

A federal high court in Abuja has fixed March 5 for the arraignment of Andy Uba, a former senator representing Anambra south over alleged N400 million fraud.

Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, fixed the date after granting the ex parte application moved by M.C. Anthony, counsel to the inspector-general of police (IGP) to serve Uba and his co-defendants with the charge and other documents by substituted means.

Ekwo directed that the service of the processes be effected within seven days of the order.

Anthony had moved the motion following the complaint that the defendants had been evading the service of the court documents despite being given administrative bail.

Uba and two others —  Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu — are facing a two-count charge dated October 8, 2024, and marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024.

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  “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 evidences against them.

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

On November 13, 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.