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A Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled the planned arraignment of Senator Andy Uba and Benjamin Etu in the alleged N400 million fraud case for November 6. Uba and Etu were to be arraigned on Tuesday but for the absence of the judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, who was said to be sitting at another division of the court outside Abuja. With the agreement of lawyers in the case, officials of the court rescheduled the arrangement for November 6. The judge, on September 24, threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Uba, the former Senator representing Anambra South, should he fail to appear in court on October 28. The threat to issue bench warrant was informed by an application by the prosecuting lawyer, Aminu Abdullahi, that the court should compel UBA to attend court. Uba’s lawyer, C.F. Odiniru pleaded with the judge to reject the prosecution’a request for a bench warrant. Odiniru attributed Uba’s continued absence to ill health. In count one of the two-count charge, Uba, Etu and Hajiya Fatima now at large, are alleged to have, sometimes in 2022 conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence. Uba and others were accused of obtaining by false pretence, by making a presentation to Mr George Uboh that they had perfected ways for the appointment of the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to any interested persons who could afford N400 million. Read Also: Alleged N400m fraud: Court threatens Andy Uba with arrest warrant “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 offence, the prosecution said, is contrary to Section 1 (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006,” the count read in part. Uboh, in a letter dated April 5, 2023, and addressed to the I-G, said the petition was based on documentary and voice recording. According to Uboh, the evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable. No fewer than six witnesses had been listed to testify against the ex-lawmaker and Etu.
