Andy Uba, a former Special Assistant to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has been charged with involvement in an alleged N400 million fraud.
Uba, along with three others, is accused of deceiving George Uboh into paying the large sum under the false pretence that they could secure him the position of Managing Director at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The charge, filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) at the Federal High Court in Abuja, claims that Uba, Crystal Chidinma Uba, Benjamin Etu, and Hajiya Fatima (who is reportedly on the run), conspired to obtain the N400 million from Uboh.
They allegedly made false claims that they could arrange the NDDC appointment for anyone willing to pay the money.
According to the charge, the defendants falsely presented to Uboh that they had a way to secure the NDDC MD position for any candidate who could afford N400 million.
This presentation, the prosecution argues, was knowingly fraudulent.
The charge reads:
“That you Andy Uba, Crystal Chidinma Uba, Benjamin Etu, and Hajiya Fatima (now at large) sometime in 2022 conspired to commit an offence by obtaining N400 million from George Uboh under false pretences… thereby committing 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 case stemmed from a petition filed by Uboh, who claims to have been duped into parting with the money after being assured by Uba that he could influence the NDDC MD appointment.
Uboh, in his petition, stated that Uba promised to refund the money if the appointment did not materialize, but the refund never came.
Uboh also provided documentary and voice recording evidence to support his claims, including details of two bank accounts Uba allegedly provided for the transfer of the funds.
Uboh nominated his sister, Doris Uboh, a qualified candidate for the NDDC position, but alleges that the promised appointment never took place, and Uba failed to return the money.
The defendants were scheduled to be arraigned on November 13, but the process was delayed after the prosecution’s lawyer, M.L. Anthony, informed the court that he had been unable to serve the charges personally to the defendants.
Anthony explained that the defendants had been evading service of the court documents, despite being granted administrative bail.
The lawyer also stated that the defendants had obtained a court order that temporarily halted their arrest, but that order was lifted, leading to the current charges.
Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the case until February 18 of next year for the defendants’ arraignment, with the prosecution expected to ensure proper service of the charge documents before then.
