A former Special Assistant on Special Duties and Domestic Affairs to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Andy Uba, has been accused of complicity in an alleged N400 million fraud.

In a charge filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja in the name of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Uba was alleged to have worked with three others to obtain N400 million from a victim, identified as George Uboh.

Uba, Crystal Chidinma Uba, and Benjamin Etu (named as defendants in the charge) along with Hajiya Fatima (said to be on the run) allegedly obtained the N400 million from Uboh in the pretext that they could facilitate his appointment as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

A part of the charge reads:

“That you Andy Uba, Crystal Chidinma Uba, Benjamin Etu and Hajiya Fatima (now at large) sometimes in the year 2022 within  did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit : obtaining by false pretences by making a presentation to George Uboh you have perfected way to an appointment of the Managing Directorship of NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission) to any interested person who can afford the sum of N400,000,000, 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.”

It was learnt that the charge followed findings by police investigators who were acting on a petition filed by Uboh.

In the petition, Uboh claimed, among others, to have been hoodwinked into parting with the N400 million.

He said: “This petition is based on documentary and voice recording evidence, thus the evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable.

“Andy Ubah stated unequivocally to me that he has perfected a way to give NDDC Mmanaging directorship to any candidate who brings N400,000,000; that if the appointment does not occur, he would refund the money.

“I nominated my sister, Honorable (Engr.) Doris Uboh, who, by profession, is qualified to be the NDDC MD.

“Andy Ubah provided two accounts and instructed a transfer of N200,000,000 each into the accounts.

“I instructed another sister of mine, Princess Engr. Ify Akanmode, who is a business partner and whose account I had some funds, to do the transfers.

“Till date, Andy Ubah has promised to pay and has not.”

The defendants were to be arraigned on November 13 but the arraignment was stalled when lawyer to the prosecution, M. L. Anthony, complained about his inability to effect personal service on the defendants, as required.

Anthony claimed that the defendants had been evading service of the court documents after they were given administrative bail.

The lawyer told the court that he had been on the case since 2023, adding that the defendants obtained a fundamental rights enforcement order, which prevented the police from bringing them to court.

He added that it was after the order was lifted that the defendants were finally charged before the judge.

Ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned till February 18, next year, for the purpose of arraignment, and before which the prosecution is expected to effect service of the charge on the defendants.