Court adjourns Andy Uba’s ₦400m fraud case

By Obasola Olatunde

The arraignment of former Senator representing Anambra South, Andy Uba, and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, over an alleged ₦400 million fraud was adjourned by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday until November 6, 2025.

The proceedings were stalled due to the unexpected absence of the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, who was reportedly sitting in another division of the court.
The case, which was initially slated for Uba and Etu to take their plea, has faced multiple delays since it was filed in 2024. Justice Umar had previously issued a strong warning to the former Senator on September 24, threatening to issue a bench warrant for Uba’s arrest if he failed to appear at the October 28 hearing.

Prosecution counsel, Aminu Abdullahi, representing the Inspector-General of Police, voiced concern over Uba’s continuous failure to appear, accusing him of showing “disrespect to the court.”

Abdullahi urged the court to invoke Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to compel his attendance.

However, Uba’s counsel, C.F. Odiniru, pleaded for more time, citing his client’s persistent ill health, the same reason given for his absence in July. Justice Umar had granted this request, but sternly warned it would be Uba’s “last opportunity” before a warrant would be issued.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) granted approval for the police to prosecute Uba and Etu on July 7, 2024.

According to an amended two-count charge filed on March 4, 2025, by Police Prosecutor Abdulrashid Sidi, Uba and Etu are accused of obtaining ₦400 million by false pretence from one Mr. George Uboh.

This sum was allegedly taken under the guise of facilitating the appointment of a Managing Director for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The defendants allegedly made this presentation in 2022, “knowing it to be false,” constituting 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.

The prosecution confirmed its plan to call six witnesses to testify against Uba and Etu, while a third suspect, Hajiya Fatima, remains at large.