Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, has granted the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, the go-ahead to prosecute former senator Andy Uba over an alleged N400 million fraud. At a court session on Monday, July 7, A.M. Abdullahi, counsel representing the IGP, informed Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja that the AGFs office had reviewed the case and authorised the police to proceed with the prosecution. The case, previously handled by Justice Inyang Ekwo, was reassigned to Justice Umar following Ekwos suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC). The prosecution had initially filed a two-count charge against Uba and his co-defendants, Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu, on October 10, 2024. However, in an amended charge filed on March 4, Crystal Ubas name was removed, leaving only Uba and Etu as defendants. According to the charge, Uba, Etu, and one Hajiya Fatima (now at large), allegedly conspired in 2022 to fraudulently obtain N400 million from George Uboh under false pretences. The defendants allegedly claimed they could secure the appointment of a managing director for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for anyone willing to pay 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 reads. Uboh, in a petition dated April 5, 2023, submitted to the IGP, provided documentary evidence and voice recordings to support his claim. The prosecution is expected to call six witnesses. Earlier, the AGF had requested the case file for review following a petition from the defendants. A subsequent letter from M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), dated May 8, confirmed a prima facie case against Uba, Etu, and Fatima, but noted no evidence linking Crystal Uba to the offence. When the matter resumed on Monday, July 7, only Etu and his lawyer, C.F. Odiniru, were present. Odiniru told the court that Uba was abroad for medical treatment and also claimed that the alleged sum had been refunded. What is funny is that the subject matter of this charge has been settled. The money has been paid, he said. The prosecution, however, challenged Ubas absence, arguing that no medical documentation had been provided to support the claim. Justice Umar adjourned the matter to September 24 for the defendants to take their plea.
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