Following the repeated absence of former Senator Andy Uba, who represented Anambra South Senatorial District, in a criminal case involving an alleged N400 million appointment fraud, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
Justice Mohammed Umar had previously fixed Wednesday for the arraignment of Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, on charges related to the alleged fraud.
When the case — marked FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024 — was called, counsel for the defendants, C.L. Odiniru, apologized for Uba’s absence and told the court that the former senator is currently undergoing medical treatment in the United States of America.
However, the prosecution counsel, Aminu Abdullahi, representing the IGP, countered the explanation. He noted that illness had also been cited during previous proceedings without any documentary evidence to back the claim.
Abdullahi urged the court to issue a bench warrant for Uba’s arrest, stating that repeated absences without substantiation undermine the judicial process.
In response, Odiniru maintained that the court had been formally informed of his client’s medical condition and that documentation had now been obtained to prove that Uba is indeed receiving treatment abroad. “The former Senator is sick and cannot stand his trial at the moment,” he said.
Abdullahi, however, insisted: “Granting the application for a bench warrant of arrest on the first defendant will be in the best interest of justice.”
Clearly displeased with Uba’s continued absence, Justice Umar issued a strong warning. “I will give you another opportunity by giving you another date. This case must be heard this year. Even if it means issuing a bench warrant of arrest, the court will do that,” he declared.
The judge then adjourned the matter to October 28, 2025, for Uba and his co-defendant to enter their pleas.
The prosecution had previously amended the two-count charge against Uba and Etu on March 5, 2025. The original case, filed on October 10, 2024, included a third defendant, Crystal Uba. However, in the amended charge, Crystal Uba was dropped, and Uba and Etu were listed as the first and second defendants.
In Count One, Uba, Etu, and one Hajiya Fatima (currently at large) were accused of conspiring in 2022 to commit fraud. According to the charge, the defendants allegedly convinced a Mr. George Uboh that they had secured means to facilitate the appointment of a Managing Director for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for anyone who could pay N400 million.
The charge states: “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 prosecution added that the act also violated Section 1(2) and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Uboh, in a letter to the IGP dated April 5, 2023, claimed to have submitted overwhelming and irrefutable evidence, including documentary proof and voice recordings.
No fewer than six witnesses are expected to testify against Uba and Etu during the trial.
The case was reassigned to Justice Umar after the suspension of the previous trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, by the National Judicial Council (NJC).