By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), on Thursday, withdrew the N400 million fraud charge filed against Senator Andy Uba and his co-defendant, Mr. Benjamin Etu, following the refund of the disputed sum to the complainant, Dr. George Uboh.
Counsel to the I-G, Mr. Aminu Abdullahi, informed Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the defendants had paid the money in full and that all disputes had been amicably resolved.
Abdullahi told the court that a notice of discontinuance had been filed under Section 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, urging the court to terminate further proceedings.
“We filed and served a notice of discontinuance this morning,” he said, adding that the parties had settled all claims and liabilities connected to the transaction.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr. C. F. Odiniru, did not oppose the withdrawal but prayed the court to dismiss the charge in line with Section 108(3) of the ACJA, since both parties were now satisfied with the resolution.
In an affidavit of facts filed on Nov. 5, Etu affirmed that Dr. Uboh had received and acknowledged the full refund of N400 million, as evidenced by a duly executed settlement agreement. He also stated that he had the consent of Senator Uba to depose to the affidavit on his behalf.
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar granted the police application, struck out the charges, and discharged both defendants.
The judge had earlier, on Sept. 24, threatened to issue a bench warrant for Uba’s arrest over his repeated failure to appear in court, which the defence had attributed to ill health.
The case had been initiated after the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) granted the I-G approval to prosecute Uba and Etu over alleged advance fee fraud.
The amended two-count charge, filed in March 2024, accused the former senator representing Anambra South and his co-defendant of obtaining N400 million from Dr. Uboh under false pretence of facilitating an appointment as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Our correspondent reports that with Thursday’s development, the court has brought the matter to a close following the full refund and settlement between the parties.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
