The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigerian Police to serve an amended charge on former Senator Andy Uba and other defendants in a case involving an alleged N400 million fraud.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned proceedings until March 17 to allow time for service of the fresh charge, which was filed by the police on March 4 but had yet to be delivered to the defendants.
The case, initiated by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), names former governor Anambra State, along with Crystal and Benjamin Etu, as defendants.
At the resumed hearing, Lukeman Anthony appeared for the prosecution, while C.F. Odiniru represented the defendants.
During the session, Anthony informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment and that the charge had been amended.
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However, upon inquiry from Justice Ekwo, the prosecution confirmed that the amended charge had not yet been served on the defendants.
The judge then asked how much time was required to complete service, to which the prosecution requested seven days.
Justice Ekwo subsequently directed that the amended charge be served on the first and second defendants before the next hearing.
Count one of the amended charge reads, “That you Andy Uba, Benjamin Etu and Hajiya Fatima now at large sometimes between the year 2022, within the jurisdiction of the Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: obtaining by false pretences by making a presentation to George Uboh, you have perfected way to an appointment of the Managing Directorship of NDDC Niger Delta Development Commission to any interested person who can afford the sum of N400,000,000, 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.
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Count two, “That you Andy Uba, Benjamin Etu and Hajiya Fatima, now at large, sometimes between the year 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Court did conspire amongst yourselves with intention to defraud did induce George Uboh by making a presentation to him that you have perfected way to give an appointment of the post of Managing Directorship of (NDDC) Niger Delta Development Commission to any interested person who can afford the sum of N400,000,000, a presentation which you know is not true, you collected the money 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.”
