News
Court threatens bench warrant against senator Andy Uba
A Federal High Court in Abuja has warned Senator Andy Uba of a potential bench warrant if he fails to appear in court on October 28 to address a criminal charge against him.
Uba, alongside Benjamin Etu, faces allegations of fraud involving N400 million, with the charge filed in the name of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
On Wednesday, Justice Mohammed Umar issued the warning after Uba’s lawyer, C.F. Odiniru, requested additional time for his client to attend the court in person.
The judge’s warning came in response to a motion by the prosecution lawyer, Aminu Abdullahi, who sought a bench warrant against Uba under Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, citing Uba’s repeated absence from court proceedings.
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When the case was called on Wednesday, Etu appeared in the dock, but Uba was absent, prompting the court to inquire about his whereabouts.
Odiniru apologized, explaining that Uba was unable to attend due to health issues.
Abdullahi, however, raised concerns about Uba’s consistent absence, noting that a similar excuse was given during the previous hearing in July.
“On the last date, we reluctantly accepted, and the matter was adjourned. And today the same reason was advanced.
“My lord, we cannot fold our arms and continue this way. We will be applying for a bench warrant under Section 394 of ACJA, 2015, against the 1st defendant,” Abdullahi stated.
He argued that Uba’s repeated absence showed disrespect to the court and hindered the progress of the trial, pointing out that Uba had not appeared in court since the charge was filed in 2024.
Odiniru opposed the prosecution’s request for a bench warrant, stating, “We are opposing this application because consistently before the court, we have informed the court that the 1st defendant is ill and out of the country.”
He claimed Uba was receiving medical treatment in a U.S. hospital and said he had provided Abdullahi with documents verifying Uba’s condition prior to the court session, as directed during the last hearing.
“I told him (Abdullahi) and showed him the documents. These applications for a bench warrant, my lord, are made for an absconding suspect, and not for a person like the 1st defendant.
“Section 37 of ACJA says if you are interested in a bench warrant, you should go by oath,” Odiniru argued.
The judge responded rhetorically, asking, “So what you are saying is that we are going to remain this way even if it will take 10 years?
“Have you seen where a person has been brought to court on a stretcher?”
Odiniru suggested that the prosecution could verify the authenticity of his claims about Uba’s health.
Abdullahi, however, refuted Odiniru’s assertion, stating that no documents regarding Uba’s health were provided to him.
“He is just reprobating and approbating to my lord,” Abdullahi said.
“He (Odiniru) didn’t make any attempt to call me for anything, my lord, because he knows that what he is holding is not acceptable,” he added, urging the court to issue the bench warrant.
Justice Umar gave Odiniru a final chance, stating, “I will give you the last opportunity,” and instructed him to ensure Uba’s presence at the next hearing.
The case was adjourned to October 28 for a plea.
On July 7, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) authorized the IGP to prosecute Uba and Etu. The prosecution amended a two-count charge on March 5, initially filed against Uba and others before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
In the original charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024), Uba, a former senator for Anambra South, was named alongside Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu. However, in the amended charge filed on March 4 by Abdulrashid Sidi of the Police Force Headquarters’ Legal/Prosecution Section, Crystal Uba’s name was removed, leaving Uba and Etu as the first and second defendants.
In the first count, Uba, Etu, and Hajiya Fatima (currently at large) were alleged to have conspired in 2022 to commit the offense.
They were accused of defrauding Mr. George Uboh by falsely claiming they could secure the appointment of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for anyone willing to pay N400 million.
“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 prosecution stated that the offense violated Section 1(2) and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
In a letter dated April 5, 2023, to the IGP, Uboh claimed his petition was supported by compelling documentary and audio evidence, describing it as “overwhelming and irrefutable.”
At least six witnesses are set to testify against Uba and Etu.
The wives of the five engineers allegedly murdered in Ebonyi State yesterday rejected the comments attributed to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, on the development, describing it as an attempt to “sweep the truth under the carpet”. The group renewed calls for an independent reinvestigation into the case.
Nelson Onyemeh, Ernest Edeani, Ikechukwu Ejiofor, Samuel Aneke, and Stanley Nwazulum were reportedly kidnapped in November 2021 while supervising construction work on the Abakaliki Ring Road project.
The protesting women, whose husbands were consultants with NELAN Engineering firm, accused authorities of inconsistencies, interference, and a possible cover-up in the handling of the case, which dates back to November 3, 2021.
In a statement, Mrs. Patricia Onyemeh, Mrs. Lovette Edeani, Mrs. Ifeoma Ejiofor, Mrs. Esther Aneke, and Mrs. Nwazulum faulted Umahi’s claim that the engineers were victims of a communal crisis, as they insisted no such conflict occurred at the time.
They said: “The characterisation of the disappearance of the five engineers as a consequence of communal crisis is completely outrageous, misconceived, and flawed.” The engineers, according to the families, travelled to Ebonyi for an official meeting linked to the African Development Bank-funded ring road project when Umahi was governor.
They said: “Credible accounts indicate that our husbands were last seen in connection with official engagements tied to the Ebonyi Ring Road project. “This raises serious questions as to whether the incident can be fairly reduced to communal violence.”
They further alleged that while investigations were ongoing, Umahi announced that the engineers had been killed and buried, a move they said raised “serious suspicions”. The women said: “This announcement by a sitting governor, while security agencies were still tracking movements, raises grave concerns.”
The women also questioned the sudden removal of a Department of State Services (DSS) investigator, Victor Onyesom, who was reportedly handling the case.
They further accused the police of presenting unidentified skeletal remains to the families without conducting DNA tests. The group said: “The police claimed the remains were those of our husbands, but refused DNA testing.
You risk getting into trouble if you by any means, join in spreading the rumour that Tony O. Elumelu, because it is manifestly false, United Bank for Africa, one of the establishments of the popular Nigerian business mogul, warned on Monday.
Against the backdrop of rumours spreading across the social media, the bank rejected the claims as fake and damaging, saying at no time did the industrialist and Chairman of the Heirs Holdings, divorce his wife, Awele Vivien Elumelu.
The bank, in a statement, which also described the story as also defamatory, and malicious publication, the statement said: “These statements and all similar content are entirely fabricated, reckless, and without basis. The claims are a deliberate falsehood designed to mislead the public and cause reputational harm.”
Stressing that the matter had been reported to law enforcement authorities, the statement, signed by Alero Ladipo, confirmed that three people linked to the publication had been arrested.
Naming those involved in spreading the rumour as Mr Kingsley Akunemeihe (@Directorkem), Mr Chigozie Success Ihebom, and Mr John Surpruchi Nwanorue (@problemchimky), the bank informed that investigations were ongoing and could lead to more arrests and prosecutions.
The statement added: “Investigations are ongoing and are expected to lead to further arrests and prosecutions of all persons involved in originating, amplifying, or sustaining this defamatory campaign. This serves as a formal notice to all individuals, platforms, and entities involved in the publication, reposting, or continued dissemination of this content to immediately cease and desist.
“Failure to comply will result in the initiation of legal proceedings, including claims for defamation, injunctive relief, damages, and any other remedies available under applicable law.
“The UBA Group is resolute in protecting the reputation, privacy, and integrity of our brand, that of Mr. Elumelu and will pursue all necessary legal avenues — civil and criminal — to ensure that all responsible parties are identified and held accountable.”
Abdulrahman Mohammad, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), belonging to the camp of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), all but scoffed at the 13-member Interim National Working Committee (INWC), raised by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) as a non-event.
In a statement, shortly after the committee was announced by Adolphus Wabara, PDP BoT Chairman, Mohammed dismissed claims upon which the body rested its decision after its 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC), describing the development as illegitimate and misleading.
The embattled party boss, who conveyed his position through, Jungudo Mohammed, spokesman of the camp, said: “The PDP wishes to categorically state that no such meeting was convened by the leadership of the party. Consequently, any resolutions, announcements, or claims emanating from that gathering are null, void, and of no effect.”
Stressing the irony in individuals he claimed previously opposed the idea of a caretaker committee, now embracing it, he said every NEC meeting must be preceded with due notification to the Independent National Electoral Commission to be valied.
Hear him: “Even if, for the sake of argument, they possessed the legal authority to convene such a meeting (which they do not), they have once again failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
“Specifically, the mandatory requirement to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a minimum of 21 days’ notice for such a meeting was blatantly ignored. There is no evidence of compliance, nor was INEC in attendance as required by law. This alone renders their actions null and void.”
Mohammed questioned the authority of the BoT, a mere advisory body to raise the 13-man committee led by Taminu Turaki, saying such a move ran against the grains of the PDP constitution, urging relevant regulatory bodies to examine the conduct of those involved, particularly members of the senior bar.
Describing the development as part of a pattern, the party said the alleged NEC meeting was a continuation of earlier failed attempts to create confusion within its ranks.
His words: “We therefore call on all party members, stakeholders, and the general public to completely disregard this illegitimate assembly and its outcomes. It has no constitutional basis, no legal standing, and no binding authority whatsoever.
“The PDP remains committed to upholding its constitution, the rule of law, and democratic principles under the able leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammad and Senator Samuel N. Anyawu.”
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