Justice Umar Warns Former Senator Andy Uba To Appear In ₦400m Job Scam Case Or Face Arrest Warrant

 

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has moved to compel the attendance of former senator Andy Uba in court, filing an application before the Federal High Court in Abuja for a bench warrant to secure his arrest. The request stems from Uba’s repeated absence in a criminal trial where he is accused of involvement in a ₦400 million appointment scam.

The matter was scheduled for hearing before Justice Mohammed Umar on Wednesday, but Uba again failed to show up. His lawyer, C. L. Odiniru, told the court that the former senator, who once represented Anambra South in the Senate, is seriously ill and undergoing treatment in the United States. Odiniru offered apologies and assured the judge that medical documents had been obtained to substantiate the claim.

Prosecution counsel Aminu Abdullahi, representing the IGP, challenged this explanation. He reminded the court that similar excuses had been tendered at earlier hearings without any proof that Uba is indeed incapacitated. Abdullahi pressed for the issuance of a bench warrant, stressing that the absence of the first defendant was deliberately obstructing the course of justice. He argued that the law must be seen to apply equally and that Uba’s repeated non-appearance demonstrated disregard for the judicial process.

The defense pushed back, insisting that Uba’s medical condition was genuine. Odiniru promised to produce evidence showing his client was receiving treatment abroad. Despite this, Abdullahi maintained that the delay in arraignment was unjustifiable and that only a warrant would compel the defendant’s attendance in court.

Justice Umar, visibly displeased with the pattern of absences, made it clear that the patience of the court was wearing thin. He emphasized that the case would not be allowed to drag indefinitely. According to him, the court is determined to ensure that the defendants face trial this year. “I will give you another opportunity by giving you another date. This case must be heard this year. Even if it means issuing a bench warrant of arrest, the court will do that,” the judge declared. The matter was adjourned until October 28, 2025, for Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, to enter their pleas.

This case has a long trail of procedural developments. The police had initially filed a two-count charge against Uba, Etu, and Uba’s relation, Crystal Uba, on October 10, 2024. The charge accused them of conspiring to defraud Mr. George Uboh by claiming they could secure him an appointment as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission in exchange for ₦400 million.

According to the prosecution, the alleged conspiracy took place in 2022. Uba, Etu, and a woman identified as Hajiya Fatima, who is said to be at large, purportedly assured Uboh that they had perfected means of arranging the high-profile appointment. Investigators say the claim was entirely false and designed to deceive.

The charge sheet makes reference to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006, which prohibits obtaining money under false pretenses. Conviction under Section 1 (3) of the same law carries severe penalties. Prosecutors argue that Uba and his associates deliberately induced Uboh to part with the large sum on the strength of fraudulent representations.

The case has been adjusted along the way. On March 5, 2025, the prosecution amended the original charge, leaving only Uba and Etu as defendants. Crystal Uba’s name was struck out, but the charges against the two remaining defendants remain serious. A minimum of six witnesses have been lined up to testify, including Uboh himself, who submitted his petition to the police in April 2023. He claimed that the evidence of the fraudulent dealings is supported by documentary proof and voice recordings, which he described as overwhelming and irrefutable.

The trial has also been affected by judicial changes. Initially assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo, the case was transferred to Justice Umar after the National Judicial Council suspended Justice Ekwo. Since then, Justice Umar has been handling the proceedings and has shown determination to move the matter forward without further unnecessary delays.

The request for a bench warrant highlights growing frustration on the part of law enforcement and the court. For the police, the continued absence of Uba represents an evasion of justice that undermines confidence in the system. For the judiciary, patience appears to be thinning, as repeated adjournments caused by the same excuse threaten to derail the trial schedule.

As the October 28 adjourned date approaches, all eyes will be on whether Uba returns to Nigeria to face the allegations. Should he fail again to appear, the court has signaled readiness to issue a warrant for his arrest, compelling his presence in the dock. For now, the spotlight remains fixed on whether the former lawmaker will take the stand to answer the serious accusations that have cast a shadow over his political and public life.