The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of Senator Andy Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, in an alleged ₦400 million fraud case to November 6, 2025, following the absence of the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar.
The case, which was scheduled for hearing on Monday, could not proceed as Justice Umar was reportedly sitting in another division of the court. The matter had been earlier fixed for October 28 for both defendants to take their plea.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the court subsequently rescheduled the arraignment to November 6.
Justice Umar had previously warned that Uba’s repeated absence would no longer be tolerated, describing it as a sign of disrespect for the judicial process.
“I will give you the last opportunity,” the judge had declared during the last sitting on October 28.
The prosecution, led by Aminu Abdullahi, counsel to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), had earlier requested the court to issue a bench warrant for Uba’s arrest in accordance with Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, after the former lawmaker failed to appear for several hearings.
Abdullahi argued that Uba’s continuous absence since the case was filed in 2024 was “unbearable” and amounted to deliberate obstruction of justice.
“His consistent absence shows disrespect to the court and has stalled the trial,” Abdullahi told the court, adding that Uba’s legal team had repeatedly cited ill health as an excuse — the same reason given during a July sitting.
Uba’s counsel, C.F. Odiniru, however, pleaded for additional time to allow his client appear in court, again citing medical reasons.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had, on July 7, 2024, granted the IGP permission to prosecute Uba and Etu over the alleged ₦400 million fraud.
Originally filed on October 10, 2024, under charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024, the case initially listed Crystal Uba as a third defendant. However, in an amended charge filed on March 4, 2025, by Abdulrashid Sidi of the Legal/Prosecution Section, Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, her name was dropped, leaving Uba and Etu as the 1st and 2nd defendants.
In the first count, Uba, Etu, and one Hajiya Fatima (now at large) were accused of conspiring in 2022 to defraud businessman George Uboh by falsely claiming they could secure the appointment of a Managing Director for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for any willing candidate able to pay ₦400 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 charge partly reads.
The prosecution said it intends to call six witnesses to testify against the former senator and his co-defendant.
The case, which has lingered for over a year, stems from a petition filed by Mr. Uboh on April 5, 2023, accompanied by documentary and voice evidence purportedly linking the defendants to the fraudulent scheme.
Senator Andy Uba, who once represented Anambra South Senatorial District, continues to face mounting legal pressure amid allegations of financial misconduct and fraud.
The matter is now slated for November 6, 2025, when both defendants are expected to finally take their plea before Justice Umar.