Court mandates police to ensure service of new charges on Uba

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday directed the Nigeria police to ensure proper service of amended charges on Senator Andy Uba, adjourning further proceedings in the case until March 17.

The adjournment came after the police filed two amended charges on March 4, which had yet to be served on the defendants.

The charge, dated March 3, was signed by Abdulrashid Sidi Esq.

The amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024), involving allegations of N400 million fraud, was filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) against Senator Uba, Crystal and Benjamin Etu.

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At the resumed hearing, Lukeman Anthony Esq. appeared for the prosecution (IGP), while C. F. Odiniru represented the defendants.

Opening the proceedings, Anthony informed the court that the case was scheduled for arraignment and that the charge had been amended.

At this point, Justice Ekwo enquired when the amended charge was filed.

Responding, the police prosecution counsel said he filed the amended charge on March 4.

Interjecting, Justice Ekwo, demanded to whether the Defendants have been served, but the police lawyer, replied, “no my lord.

In view of the development, the Judge asked how many days the prosecution counsel needed to effect service of the amended charge on the Defendants, and Mr Lukeman Anthony, said 7 days.

Meanwhile, the court has directed that the amended charge be served on the 1st and 2nd defendants.

Interjecting, Justice Ekwo, demanded to whether the Defendants have been served, but the police lawyer, replied, “no my lord.

In view of the development, the Judge asked how many days the prosecution counsel needed to effect service of the amended charge on the Defendants, and Mr Lukeman Anthony, said 7 days.

Meanwhile, the court has directed that the amended charge be served on the 1st and 2nd defendants.

Andy Uba, Benjamin Etu, and Hajiya Fatima (now at large), sometime in 2022, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence—obtaining money by false pretences.

You falsely represented to George Uboh that you had secured a process to facilitate an appointment to the position of Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for any interested person who could pay the sum of ₦400,000,000 (Four Hundred Million Naira). Knowing this claim to be false, you 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.

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That you, Andy Uba, Benjamin Etu, and Hajiya Fatima (now at large), sometime in 2022, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired with intent to defraud. You induced George Uboh by falsely claiming that you had the means to secure an appointment to the position of Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for any interested person willing to pay ₦400,000,000.

Knowing this representation to be untrue, you collected the money, thereby committing 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.