Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned further proceedings between the Nigeria Police and Senator Andy Uba to March 17.
The adjournment followed the police filing of a 2-count amended charge on March 4, which had yet to be served on the defendants.
The amended charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024), involving allegations of N400 million fraud, was filed by the inspector general of police (IGP) against Senator Uba, Crystal and Benjamin Etu.
At Wednesday’s sitting, Lukeman Anthony Esq. announced an appearance for the prosecution (IGP), while C. F Odiniru represented the defendants.
Mr Anthony told the court that the matter was for arraignment and that the charge had been amended.
At this point, Justice Ekwo enquired when the amended charge was filed.
Responding, the police prosecution counsel said he filed the amended charge on March 4.
Interjecting, Justice Ekwo demanded to know whether the defendants had been served, but the police lawyer replied, “No, my lord”.
In view of the development, the judge asked how many days the prosecution counsel needed to effect service of the amended charge on the defendants, and Mr Lukeman Anthony said seven days.
Meanwhile, the court has directed that the amended charge be served on the 1st and 2nd defendants.
Count one of the amended charges read, “That you, Andy Uba, Benjamin Etu and Hajiya Fatima, now at large sometime 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 a way to an appointment of the managing directorship of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 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.
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.
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