Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has granted approval to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to prosecute former Anambra South senator, Andy Uba, over an alleged N400 million fraud case, News360 Nigeria reports.
At a Federal High Court session in Abuja on Monday, counsel to the IGP, A.M. Abdullahi, informed the presiding judge, Mohammed Umar, that the AGF’s office had reviewed the case file and authorised the police to proceed with prosecution.
The matter was reassigned to Justice Umar after Justice Inyang Ekwo’s suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Initially, a two-count charge filed on October 10, 2024, listed Uba, Crystal Uba, and Benjamin Etu as defendants, but an amended charge on March 4 dropped Crystal’s name.
According to the charge, Uba, Etu, and one Hajiya Fatima, who is currently at large, allegedly conspired in 2022 to fraudulently obtain N400 million from George Uboh under the pretence that they could secure the appointment of a Managing Director for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a claim the police say was false.
Uboh had petitioned the IGP in April 2023, submitting evidence including documents and voice recordings.
The prosecution also disclosed that the AGF earlier called for a review of the case after the defendants petitioned his office, but the Director of Public Prosecutions, M.B. Abubakar, confirmed a prima facie case against Uba and Etu.
At Monday’s hearing, only Etu and his lawyer, C.F. Odiniru, were present in court. Odiniru claimed Uba was abroad for medical treatment and stated that the N400 million had been refunded.
However, the prosecution objected to Uba’s absence, pointing out there was no evidence to back the medical claim.
The court adjourned the matter to September 24 for the defendants to take their plea.