IGP withdraws N400m fraud case against Andy Uba after reported settlement
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Anambra governorship election, Andy Uba has rejected the result of the just-concluded poll as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The inspector-general of police (IGP) has withdrawn the N400 million fraud charge filed against Andy Uba, former senator representing Anambra South, following what prosecutors described as an amicable settlement between the parties.
Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, had been accused of conspiring with a third suspect, Hajiya Fatima (said to be at large), to obtain N400 million from businessman George Uboh in 2022 under false pretences.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly claimed they could facilitate the appointment of a managing director for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in exchange for the payment, a representation prosecutors said they knew to be false, contrary to Section 8 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
The Attorney-General of the Federation had approved on July 7 for the police to prosecute the case.
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Multiple attempts to arraign the defendants were unsuccessful, and on September 24, the court warned that an arrest warrant would be issued against Uba should he fail to appear at the next sitting.
At Thursday’s proceedings, however, IGP counsel Aminu Abdullahi informed the court that a notice of discontinuance had been filed and served that morning.
He also said the complainant had been refunded the N400 million at the centre of the dispute.
Defence counsel C.F. Odiniru did not oppose the application.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar granted the withdrawal request, struck out the charge and discharged the defendants.
