Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police, has dragged Senator Andy Uba, and two others, to court for alleged involvement in fraud.
Uba was a former Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
In a two-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024 filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja, the IGP joined Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu, as 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
The charge, dated Oct. 8, was filed on Oct. 10 by Abdulrashid Sidi in the Legal/Prosecution Section at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
In count one, Uba, Crystal, Etu and Hajiya Fatima now at large, sometimes in 2022, were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence.
The former lawmaker and others were accused of obtaining by false pretence, by making a presentation to George Uboh that they had perfected ways for the appointment of the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to any interested persons, who could afford N400 million.
“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 charge partly read.
In count two, the defendants and Fatima, who is at large, 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 had in a letter dated April 5, 2023, which was addressed to the IGP, said the petition was based on documentary and voice recording, describing the evidence as overwhelming and irrefutable.
No fewer than six witnesses had been listed to testify against the ex-lawmaker and others.
However, Justice Ekwo adjourned their arraignment until Feb. 18, 2025, following a complaint by M.L. Anthony, who appeared for the IGP that the defendants had been evading the service of the court documents despite being given administrative bail.
Anthony told the court that the matter had been dragging since 2023, adding that the defendants obtained a fundamental rights enforcement order which had prevented the police from bringing them to court.
He noted that the defendants were finally charged before the judge after the order was lifted.
The matter was adjourned by Justice Ekwo to enable the defendants to take their plea.