The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on Thursday withdrew a N400 million fraud charge filed against former Senator Andy Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The matter, initially scheduled for arraignment, was discontinued after the defendants reportedly refunded the full amount in dispute.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the IGP’s counsel, Aminu Abdullahi, informed Justice Muhammad Umar that a notice of discontinuance had been filed pursuant to Section 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. Abdullahi stated that Mr Uba and Mr Etu had fully settled the dispute with the complainant, George Uboh, resolving “all disputes, claims, and liabilities arising from or connected with the transaction.”
Mr Uba’s lawyer, C.F. Odiniru, did not oppose the notice and submitted that an affidavit of facts of settlement had been served on all parties. The affidavit, filed on 5 November and deposed to by Mr Etu, indicated that Mr Uboh had received and acknowledged the full payment of N400 million, evidenced by a duly executed settlement agreement annexed as Exhibit A.
Following submissions from both sides, Judge Umar granted the notice of discontinuance, struck out the charges, and discharged the defendants.
The case dates back to October 2024 when the police initially filed criminal charges against Mr Uba, his wife Crystal Uba, and Mr Etu, alleging that they defrauded Mr Uboh of N400 million. The charges were first brought by Abdulrashid Sidi of the Legal/Prosecution Section at the Police Headquarters, Abuja, and were initially assigned to Judge Inyang Ekwo. After Ekwo’s one-year suspension in April by the National Judicial Council, the matter was reassigned to Judge Umar.
On 4 March 2025, the police filed amended charges removing Mrs Uba as a defendant while retaining Mr Uba and Mr Etu. The charges alleged that the defendants conspired in 2022 to fraudulently obtain the money under the pretext of securing a federal appointment for Mr Uboh as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), contrary to Section 8 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The case was further reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), M.B. Abubakar, who approved prosecution of Mr Uba, Mr Etu, and an at-large suspect, Hajiya Fatima, but found no evidence linking Crystal Uba to the alleged offence.
Mr Uba had consistently failed to appear for arraignment due to health issues, having travelled to the United States for surgery. During earlier proceedings, the prosecution requested a bench warrant due to his repeated absence. Mr Odiniru had maintained that the matter was already settled with repayment of the disputed funds.
Thursday’s withdrawal brings the matter to a close, effectively ending the criminal proceedings against Mr Uba and his co-defendant.
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