A former member of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Andy Uba, along with his daughter and others defrauded Doris Uboh, a former member of the House of Representatives representing the Ika Federal Constituency of Delta State, of N400 million, sources told The Bureau Newspaper.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had sued the former Senator representing Anambra South, Uba, and two others, for alleged fraud.
The IGP in a two-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024 filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja, joined Uba’s daughter, Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu as second and third defendants respectively.
Abdulrashid Sidi filed the charge, dated October 8, on October 10 in the Legal/Prosecution Section at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Count 1 of the charges accused Andy Uba, Crystal, Etu and one Hajiya Fatima, who is at large, of conspiring amongst themselves to commit the offence sometime in 2022.
Uba and others were accused of obtaining by false pretence and making a presentation to George Uboh that they had perfected ways to ensure the appointment of any interested person who could afford N400 million as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
According to sources, Uba duped Doris Uboh of N400 million in 2022, after promising her an opportunity to become the MD of NDDC through then first lady, Aisha Buhari.
Sources privy to the incident told The Bureau Newspaper that Uba’s trial followed a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
“The money was wired from an account used by Uboh to a bureau de change used by Andy Uba to launder money and after the BDC owners were arrested, they confessed that they routinely collected money from Andy Uba through their account and converted to dollars for him,” one of the sources said.
“However, when Andy was arrested after a petition to the Police IG, he got a Federal Capital Territory court judge, Justice S. B. Belgore to grant an order preventing his arrest. But a petition challenging the perpetual order got the case discharged and the order was removed, leading to Andy Uba’s trial.”
The Bureau Newspaper also learnt that Uba’s daughter, Crystal, was arrested while attempting to withdraw part of the money.
“The daughter, Crystal Uba, who recently got married was arrested in the bank when a portion of the money was being cashed,” another source said.
The source also stated that one of the accused persons regarding the fraud, Hajia Fatima, who is close to Aisha Buhari, wife of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, had refunded N50 million out of the N200 million she collected.
“Hajia Fatima, who is close to Aisha Buhari and said to be currently at large, already refunded N50 million out of the N200 million she collected,” the source said.
The source added that Nigerian business mogul Aliko Dangote also reported to the former Inspector General of Police that Uba had used his name to scam someone out of a large sum of money.
“Also, a man reportedly stabbed Andy Uba at the home of the former Police IG because Andy allegedly scammed him out of N2 billion, promising to secure him a top position in Buhari’s government,” the source said.
“There was a court order that cleared the way for his arraignment,” the source added.
Meanwhile, Justice S. B. Belgore of the FCT High Court in the Abuja Judicial Division in a September 2024 ruling struck out a case filed by Senator Uba for lack of diligent prosecution.
The case, with suit number FCT/HC/CV/5038/2023, was between Senator Andy E. Uba as the Applicant and Panic Alert Security System Ltd, Clean Vision and Company Limited, George Uboh, Benjamin Etu, the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Musa Ibrahim, Assistant Superintendent of Police Dauda Yakubu, and Assistant Superintendent of Police Duniya Shehu as the Respondents.
In his ruling, Justice Belgore said, “Upon the hearing of the Originating Motion during the court proceedings on the 24th day of September 2024, it became evident that the Applicant had failed to comply with the Order of the Court granted on the 28th day of May, 2024.
“Consequently, after full consideration of this application, I find merit in the Respondent’s submission, and it is hereby ordered as follows: This suit, No. FCT/HC/CV/5038/2023, is struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.”