Court Orders Police to Serve Ex-Senator Andy Uba, Daughter, and Associate with Charge Sheet via Pasting at Residences

A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed that former Senator Andy Uba, his daughter, Barrister Crystal Chidinma Uba, and their associate, Mr. Benjamin Etu, be served their charge sheet by pasting it at their last known addresses.

The order, issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo, was granted due to the accused individuals allegedly evading service in an ongoing criminal fraud case.

The case, identified as IGP V. Andy Uba, Crystal Chidinma Uba, and Benjamin Etu (FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024), involves accusations of a N400 million fraud. Reports indicate that the defendants had repeatedly avoided being served, prompting the Inspector General of Police to seek court approval for substituted service, which was granted on February 5.

According to Chronicles Reporters, Uba and his co-defendants are accused of defrauding former lawmaker Doris Uboh of N400 million. They allegedly promised to secure her appointment as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) through Aisha Buhari, the wife of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

A copy of the court order states:

“An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the Applicant/Complainant to serve the 1st to 3rd Defendants/Respondents in this Suit, Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024, by affixing the charge and accompanying processes at the gates of their last known addresses.”

The court identified the defendants’ address as No. 14, Vaal Street, Off R Street, Maitama, FCT, Abuja.

The ruling means that once the charge sheet is pasted at their residence, the defendants will be deemed officially served and are required to appear in court on March 5, 2025. Failure to do so may lead to the issuance of a warrant for their arrest.

Earlier, on February 5, Chronicles Reporters reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja had scheduled March 5 for the arraignment of Uba over the fraud allegations. Justice Ekwo set the date after granting the prosecution’s request for substituted service.

The defendants, including Uba’s daughter and Etu, face a two-count charge filed on October 8, 2024. The charge sheet alleges that they, along with one Hajiya Fatima—who remains at large—conspired in 2022 to defraud George Uboh by falsely claiming they had the connections to secure an NDDC appointment for N400 million.

In a petition to the Inspector General of Police on April 5, 2023, Uboh provided documentary and audio evidence to support his claims. Prosecutors have reportedly prepared six witnesses to testify against the accused.

During a court session on November 13, prosecutors alleged that Uba and his co-accused had deliberately evaded service of legal documents, even after being granted administrative bail. They initially secured a court order preventing their prosecution, but once that order was lifted, formal charges were filed.

In a previous report on November 20, 2024, Chronicles Reporters detailed the allegations against Uba and his associates. Count 1 of the charge accuses them of conspiring in 2022 to obtain money under false pretenses by claiming they could guarantee an NDDC appointment.

Sources familiar with the case allege that Uba defrauded Doris Uboh, a former House of Representatives member from Delta State, of N400 million in 2022. He allegedly assured her that he could secure the NDDC MD position through Aisha Buhari.

An investigation by the police revealed that Uboh transferred the money to a bureau de change allegedly linked to Uba. The bureau operators, when arrested, reportedly confessed that they regularly handled transactions for him, converting funds into dollars.

After a petition reached the Inspector-General of Police, Uba was arrested. However, he later obtained a court order from Justice S. B. Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory, preventing his detention. That order was later challenged and overturned, leading to his current prosecution.

Further details indicate that Uba’s daughter, Crystal, was arrested at a bank while attempting to withdraw part of the money. Meanwhile, one of the accused, Hajiya Fatima—who allegedly collected N200 million from the deal—has refunded N50 million but remains at large.

Additionally, sources claim that business magnate Aliko Dangote once reported Uba to the former Inspector General of Police for allegedly using his name to defraud someone of a large sum of money.

There are also allegations that Uba was attacked and stabbed at a former police chief’s residence by an individual who accused him of scamming him out of N2 billion under the pretense of securing a government appointment during the Buhari administration.

With the court order now in effect, all eyes will be on the next hearing date, March 5, to see if the accused will appear in court or face further legal consequences.

For more updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0J