The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of former senator, Andy Uba, in connection with an alleged N400 million job scam.
The request was made on Wednesday, the 24th of September, 2025, Uba, who once represented Anambra South in the Senate, failed again to appear in court for his arraignment on the charge of appointment fraud.
Justice Mohammed Umar, the trial judge, had earlier scheduled Wednesday’s sitting for Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, to take their pleas.
When the matter with charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024 was called, Uba’s lawyer, C.L. Odiniru, apologized for his client’s absence, explaining that the former senator was undergoing medical treatment in the United States.
But the prosecution lawyer representing the IGP, Aminu Abdullahi, objected. He argued that Uba’s absence had repeatedly been linked to illness without any supporting medical evidence presented in court. Abdullahi therefore asked the judge to issue a bench warrant for Uba’s arrest.
Odiniru opposed the application, saying the defense had now obtained documents showing Uba’s treatment abroad. Abdullahi maintained that granting the arrest warrant would serve the interest of justice.
Visibly displeased with Uba’s continued absence, Justice Umar warned that the court would ensure the trial proceeded this year.
“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,” the judge declared before adjourning the case to October 28, 2025.
The case had earlier been reassigned to Justice Umar after the National Judicial Council suspended Justice Inyang Ekwo, who initially handled the matter.
On the 5th of March, 2025, the prosecution amended the charges against Uba and Etu.
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While the original two-count charge, filed on October 10, 2024, listed Uba, his relative Crystal Uba, and Etu as defendants, the amended version filed on the 4th of March, 2025, dropped Crystal’s name, leaving only Uba and Etu.
According to the charge, Uba, Etu, and one Hajiya Fatima (still at large) conspired in 2022 to defraud. They allegedly obtained N400 million from George Uboh by falsely presenting that they could secure him appointment as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“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 read.
The prosecution stressed that the offence falls under Section 1 (2) and attracts punishment under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
In a petition to the IGP dated the 5th of April, 2023, Uboh said he backed his complaint with documents and voice recordings, insisting that the evidence against Uba and others was overwhelming.
At least six witnesses have been lined up to testify against the former senator and his co-defendant when the case resumes.