Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that former senator Andy Uba, his daughter Barrister Crystal Chidinma Uba, and Mr. Benjamin Etu be served their charge sheet via social media and by pasting it at their last known addresses over allegations of defrauding a former lawmaker of N400 million. This ruling comes after the defendants reportedly evaded service in the ongoing criminal case, IGP v. Andy Uba, Crystal Chidinma Uba, and Benjamin Etu (Case No. FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024).
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The court’s decision followed the approval of the Inspector General of Police’s motion for substituted service. According to the ruling, the accused must appear in court on March 5, 2025, or face the risk of an arrest warrant.
The case centers around accusations that Uba, his daughter, Etu, and an accomplice, Hajiya Fatima (who remains at large), conspired in 2022 to defraud George Uboh by falsely promising to secure the position of Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for individuals willing to pay N400 million. Uboh, who submitted a petition to the IGP in April 2023, claims to have documentary and audio evidence of the fraud.
The prosecution has lined up six witnesses to testify against the defendants. The accused face charges related to obtaining money by false pretense, with Uboh allegedly being duped out of the sum. Additionally, it has been revealed that a portion of the money was laundered through a bureau de change, with Uba reportedly using this method to convert the funds into dollars.
In a twist to the case, Uba’s daughter, Crystal, was arrested during an attempt to withdraw part of the fraudulent funds. Another key figure, Hajia Fatima, who is reportedly close to Aisha Buhari, wife of the former Nigerian president, has allegedly refunded N50 million out of the N200 million she received.
The case has garnered significant attention, with allegations also surfacing that Uba used the name of Nigerian business mogul Aliko Dangote to defraud others. Additionally, reports suggest that Uba has been involved in multiple fraudulent schemes, including a claim of defrauding a man out of N2 billion with promises of a top government position.
The court’s decision to proceed with the case signals that Uba and his co-defendants may soon face legal consequences if they do not respond to the charges.
