The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed proceedings in the fraud case against former Anambra South Senator, Andy Uba, to March 17 to allow for the service of an amended charge.
Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter on Wednesday, March 5, after the prosecution revealed that Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, had yet to be served with the updated charges.
The amended charge, filed on March 4 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024, accuses Uba of obtaining ₦400 million under false pretences.
The Inspector General of Police is the complainant, while a third suspect, Hajiya Fatima, is reportedly on the run.
The charge reads in part:
“That you, 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 offense, to wit: obtaining by false pretenses.
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“You made a representation to George Uboh that you had perfected a way to secure the appointment 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).
“This representation, which you knew to be false, thereby constitutes an offense contrary to Section 8 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, 2006.”
A second count alleges that the accused persons conspired to defraud Uboh by inducing him to pay the sum under false pretences, a crime also punishable under the same law.
At Wednesday’s hearing, prosecutor Lukeman Anthony informed the court that the charge had been amended but had yet to be served on the defendants.
Justice Ekwo asked, “Have the defendants been served?” The prosecution replied, “No, my Lord.”
When the judge inquired how long it would take to serve the documents, Anthony requested seven days. The court then directed that the amended charge be served and adjourned the case to March 17.