IGP withdraws fraud case as Andy Uba refunds N400m

The inspector-general of police has withdrawn the fraud charge filed against Andy Uba, the former Anambra south senator. 

​​Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, were facing charges over an alleged N400 million fraud.

According to the charge, Uba, Etu, and one Hajiya Fatima (now at large) allegedly conspired in 2022 to obtain N400 million from one George Uboh under false pretence.

The defendants reportedly claimed that they could secure the appointment of the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for anyone willing to pay N400 million.

“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 reads.

The attorney-general of the federation (AGF) had, on July 7, given the IGP permission to prosecuteUba and Etu.

Several attempts to arraign the defendants stalled and on September 24, the court threatened to issue an arrest warrant against Uba if he failed to appear on the next date.

At the court session on Thursday, Aminu Abdullahi, IGP counsel, told the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuance following an amicable settlement of the issue by the parties.

“We filed and served a notice of discontinuance this morning,” he said.

He told the court that Uba, and his co-defendant had paid the sum of N400 million involved in the charge to the nominal complainant.

C.F. Odiniru, defence lawyer, did not oppose the application for withdrawal of the case.

In his ruling, Mohammed Umar, presiding judge, granted the notice of discontinuance as prayed by the police, struck out the charges and discharged the defendants.(The Cable)