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Alleged N400m fraud: Court cautions IGP in charge against Andy Uba

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A Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, on Thursday, cautioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in the charge filed against Senator Andy Uba, and two others, over allegations bordering on N400 million fraud.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the warning after IGP’s lawyer, M.C. Anthony, relied on the FHC (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, in a motion ex-parte filed to seek an order for substituted service of the charge on Uba and his co-defendants.

When the matter was called, Anthony, who announced appearance for the prosecution, told the court that he was holding brief for another counsel.

Justice Ekwo then asked him if he was a private or government lawyer and Anthony responded that he was a government lawyer.

“You cannot hold brief for a government officer in court,” the judge told him.

Justice Ekwo further observed that on Nov. 13, 2024, when the matter was heard, though Anthony appeared in court in company of another lawyer, he did not inform the court that he held a brief of his colleague.

“You were in court on 13th of November, 2024 with Mohammed Gajo,” he said.

When the judge asked him what the ex-parte motion was all about, he said, “My lord, the motion is seeking a leave for substituted service of the charge and other processes on the 1st to 3rd defendants/respondents.”

When the judge asked him under what law was the motion ex-parte brought, he said their application was predicated on Order 6, Rule 5(b), d(I), 5(e), and 8 of the FHC (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.

The judge, therefore, asked Anthony if the case was a civil or criminal matter, and the lawyer responded that it was a criminal matter.

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Justice Ekwo, then, told him that being heard under the law is supported by the law and that what would authorise him (Anthony) to file the motion should be pursuant to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015

“So does this apply?” he asked rhetorically.

According to the judge, this is based on law and it is not exercised in vacuum.

“You have to go and put your house in order,” the judge said and adjourned the matter until Feb. 18 for hearing of the motion ex-parte.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the I-G, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, sued Andy, the former Senator representing Anambra South, and two others.

The I-G, in a two-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024 filed before Justice Ekwo, joined Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

The charge, dated Oct. 8, was filed on Oct. 10 by Abdulrashid Sidi in the Legal/Prosecution Section at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.

In count one, Uba, Crystal, Etu and Hajiya Fatima now at large, sometime in 2022, were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence.

Uba and others were accused of obtaining by false pretence, by making a presentation to 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.

“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.”

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In count two, the defendants and Fatima, who is at large, were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves with intention to defraud and induce George Uboh by making a presentation to him that they had perfected way to give an appointment of the post of Managing Directorship of NDDC to any interested person who could afford the sum of N400 million.

The offence 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 others.

Justice Ekwo, in the last adjourned date, had adjourned their arraignment until Feb. 18, 2025.

The adjournment followed a complaint by Anthony, who appeared for the I-G, that the defendants had been evading the service of the court documents despite being given administrative bail.

Anthony told the court that they had been on the matter since 2023.

He said the defendants obtained a fundamental rights enforcement order which had prevented the police from bringing them to court.

The lawyer said it was until after the order was lifted that the defendants were finally charged before the judge.

NAN

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Legal Affairs

Outrage as Court Grants Bail to Suspects in Wedding Guest Killings in Plateau

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Relatives of the 13 wedding guests killed in Plateau State have condemned the State High Court’s decision to release 20 suspects on bail.

The victims were brutally murdered on June 12, 2025, when a mob attacked their bus in Mangun district, Mangu Local Government Area.

They were traveling from Kaduna State to attend a wedding in Qua’an Pan LGA before tragedy struck.

According to reports, the group lost their way and entered a volatile community already shaken by recent terrorist activity.

Local youths allegedly mistook them for bandits and launched a deadly assault, leaving 13 people dead on the spot.

Following the killings, security operatives arrested 21 suspects.

In an earlier court sitting, 20 of them were remanded at the Jos Correctional Center while investigations continued.

However, on Wednesday, August 20, Justice Nafisa Lawal Musa granted bail after a motion filed by defence counsel, Garba Pwul (SAN).

This ruling has triggered outrage among the families of the victims, who insist the development is a slap in the face of justice.

Mallam Abdullahi Tahir Balami, a relative of one of the deceased, condemned the court’s action.

Speaking to reporters, he described the ruling as suspicious and raised concerns about possible foul play.

“With this development, we are now questioning the commitment of the Plateau State government to justice,” Balami said.

“It is saddening that suspects in a multiple homicide case can be released on bail.”

Another relative, Mallam Ubale Anguwar Dantsoho, who lost several family members, also expressed anger.

He described the decision as shocking and warned that justice may never be served.

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“How can suspects in a murder case be granted bail?” he asked. “It shows that our system is failing us.”

Maryam Usman, widow of the driver killed in the massacre, expressed her heartbreak.

She said she struggled to understand why suspects linked to such a crime would be freed.

“What kind of court is this?” she asked in despair. “Instead of justice, the court dashed our hopes. We no longer believe justice will come.”

Her words echoed the feelings of many families now convinced that the judiciary has abandoned them.

Human rights activists are also calling for urgent intervention from both the state and federal governments to ensure accountability.

The Plateau killings have become one of the most disturbing tragedies in recent months.

The case now highlights the growing tension between grieving families and a judicial system accused of ignoring victims.

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Legal Affairs

Court upholds Zamfara govt’s seizure of 40 vehicles from Matawalle

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Zamfara State Governor, Ambassador Bello Matawalle

The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld the Federal High Court’s decision dismissing former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle’s challenge over the confiscation of over 40 official vehicles seized from his residence after he left office in 2023.

Delivering its unanimous verdict on August 8, 2025, a three-member panel led by Justice A.M. Talba ruled that Matawalle failed to provide credible evidence proving personal ownership of the vehicles.

The court emphasized that the vehicles were government property, not private assets, and rejected his claim that the seizure violated his fundamental property rights.

According to Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, the vehicles were recovered in June 2023 after Matawalle and his deputy ignored a five-day ultimatum to return them.

Following their refusal, the state government sought and obtained a court order, enabling police operatives to raid Matawalle’s residence and recover the vehicles.

Initially, Matawalle secured an interim ruling from the Federal High Court in Gusau for the vehicles to be returned to him.

He also filed a separate suit claiming the confiscation breached his fundamental rights.

However, the case was transferred to the Sokoto division of the Federal High Court, which dismissed his claims in December 2023, affirming that the vehicles remained state property.

Dissatisfied with the lower court’s ruling, Matawalle escalated the matter to the Court of Appeal.

The appellate court, however, upheld the Federal High Court’s decision, affirming that the police acted lawfully in investigating the alleged misappropriation and that the state government followed due process in retrieving the vehicles.

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The court concluded that Matawalle’s claims lacked merit and could not shield him from investigation or potential prosecution.

 

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Legal Affairs

Your tenure as LP chairman is over — Court, INEC tell defiant Abure

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Abure faction of Labour Party insists Supreme Court Labour Party judgment was in Abure's favour

The leadership crisis tearing the Labour Party apart appears to have reached a turning point as the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, struck out Julius Abure’s case against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officially affirming that he is no longer the party’s National Chairman.

The court, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025, dismissed Abure’s suit due to a lack of jurisdiction, aligning with the Supreme Court’s earlier verdict on April 4, 2025 (Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025), which voided all prior recognitions of his leadership.

However, while speaking on the judgment, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party’s Interim National Chairman, described the ruling as a clear victory for the rule of law.

“This decision removes every lingering doubt about Abure’s status. The chapter is closed. It’s time to put distractions behind us and rebuild the Labour Party into the disciplined, people-centred movement Nigerians deserve”, she said.

Also, INEC’s counter-affidavit in the case further solidified the court’s position, stressing that Abure’s tenure, along with that of the National Executive Committee, had expired in June 2024.

The commission also argued that the controversial March 27, 2024 “Nnewi National Convention” was invalid as it violated the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, INEC guidelines, and the Labour Party’s own constitution.

Senator Usman commended the electoral commission for its “clarity, courage, and institutional integrity” in presenting the facts and urged party members to “respect the supremacy of the Constitution and the authority of the courts.”

With bye-elections on the horizon and the 2027 general elections in sight, this ruling could mark the end of a year-long factional battle that has plagued the party.

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The focus now shifts to uniting the Labour Party and preparing for the political challenges ahead.

 

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Legal Affairs

NNPC secures landmark court victory against Senator Araraume

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Senator Araraume

 

On August 8, 2025, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, upheld NNPC Ltd.’s appeal against the Federal High Court’s April 2023 judgement that annulled Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s removal as non-executive Chairman of the NNPC Board and awarded him ₦5 billion in damages.

The Court of Appeal’s judgement spares NNPC Ltd a massive financial payout and removes a legal risk that could have invalidated all decisions of the Board since 2021.

The Appeal Court agreed to NNPC Ltd.’s position that the Federal High Court’s earlier decision was delivered in error, noting amongst others, that the claim was statute-barred.

This decision of the Court of Appeal secures governance stability for NNPC Ltd., sets a corporate governance precedent in Nigerian law, and upholds the validity of Board resolutions critical to the oil and gas industry’s investment and policy direction.

 

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Legal Affairs

Ibom Airport Saga: Court discharges Comfort Emmason

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Comfort Emmanson

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday cleared Miss Comfort Emmason of all charges related to unruly behavior and assaulting the flight crew aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.

Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami struck out the five-count charge following the withdrawal of the case by the police prosecution team.

During the hearing, prosecutor Oluwabunmi Adeitan informed the court of new developments that led to the decision to discontinue the case.

She submitted a formal application for its withdrawal, which the court accepted, effectively bringing the matter to a close.

 

 

 

 

 

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