Egbetokun Prays Court to Issue Bench Warrant on Andy Una over Alleged N400 Million Employment Scam
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has formally petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja to issue a bench warrant for the apprehension of former senator Andy Uba in connection with a N400 million employment scam.
The police seek to detain Uba and present him before the court for trial.
The request for the arrest order was made on Wednesday, prompted by Uba’s persistent failure to appear in court for arraignment regarding the alleged fraudulent appointment scheme.
Uba once represented Anambra South in the Senate.
The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, had scheduled Wednesday for the arraignment of Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu.
When the case, identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024, was called on Wednesday, the defendants’ counsel, C.L. Odiniru, expressed regret over Uba’s absence, citing the former senator’s illness and ongoing treatment in the United States.
However, the prosecution’s counsel, Aminu Abdullahi, informed the court that the defense had previously cited illness as the reason for the first defendant’s absence without providing any documentary evidence to substantiate the claim that he is genuinely unwell and unable to stand trial.
Abdullahi implored the court to issue a bench warrant for the former senator’s arrest.
The defense counsel, Odiniru, opposed the bench warrant application and, following the court’s directive, stated that the defense had obtained documents verifying Uba’s treatment abroad.
In response, Abdullahi argued that granting the bench warrant application would serve the interests of justice.
Justice Umar, visibly irked by Uba’s repeated absences, declared that the court would take all necessary measures to ensure his presence for trial should he fail to appear on the next adjourned date.
“I will grant you another opportunity by setting a new date. This case must be resolved this year. Even if it necessitates issuing a bench warrant, the court will proceed accordingly,” the judge declared, adjourning the matter to October 28, 2025, for Uba and his co-defendant to enter their pleas.
It is pertinent to recall that on March 5, 2025, the prosecution amended a two-count charge against Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, before the previous trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo.
Initially, the police had charged Uba and two others under the case number FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024.
The co-defendants, named in the two-count charge filed on October 10, 2024, by Abdulrashid Sidi of the Legal/Prosecution Section at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, were Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu as the 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
However, in the amended charge filed on March 4, 2025, by Sidi, Uba and Etu are designated as the 1st and 2nd defendants, with Crystal Uba’s name removed.
Count one alleged that Uba, Etu, and Hajiya Fatima, now at large, conspired in 2022 to commit the offence.
Uba and his associates were accused of obtaining by false pretence, by presenting to Mr George Uboh that they had secured means to appoint a Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for any interested party willing to pay N400 million.
“A representation known to be false, thereby committing 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 charge detailed.
The prosecution asserted that the offence contravenes Section 1 (2) and is punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
In a letter dated April 5, 2023, addressed to the IGP, Uboh stated that the petition was supported by documentary evidence and voice recordings, declaring the evidence to be overwhelming and irrefutable.
No fewer than six witnesses have been listed to testify against the former lawmaker and Etu.
The case was reassigned to Justice Umar following the suspension of the former judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, by the National Judicial Council, NJC.
