A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has again postponed the arraignment of former Senator Andy Uba over an alleged ₦400 million fraud.
The case, which was scheduled for hearing on Monday, could not continue following the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the case will now come up on November 6 for Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, to take their plea.
The court had earlier warned the former Anambra South senator to appear for his trial after several failed attempts to get him to court. During the last sitting on October 28, Justice Umar said, “I will give you the last opportunity.”
The prosecution, led by the Inspector-General of Police’s counsel, Aminu Abdullahi, had previously asked the court to issue a bench warrant against Uba in line with Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Abdullahi accused the former lawmaker of consistently disrespecting the court by refusing to appear since the charge was filed in 2024.
He told the court that Uba’s lawyer had repeatedly cited ill-health as the reason for his absence, a claim the prosecution described as an attempt to delay proceedings.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had earlier granted the police approval to prosecute Uba and Etu over the alleged fraud. The case borders on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence, allegedly involving a promise to facilitate the appointment of a Managing Director in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in exchange for ₦400 million.
According to the charge, “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 alleged fraud, which took place in 2022, reportedly involved another suspect identified as Hajiya Fatima, who is currently at large.
The police say they plan to call at least six witnesses to testify against the former senator and his co-defendant when the trial eventually begins.
Recall that the court had previously threatened to issue a bench warrant for Uba’s arrest after his continuous absence stalled progress in the case.