The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has withdrawn the two-count charge filed against Senator Andy Uba and Benjamin Etu.
The IGP had, in the charge, accused Uba and Etu of obtaining N400 million under false pretence from an Abuja businessman, George Uboh.
The IGP had alleged that Uba, Etu, and Hajiya Fatima (said to be on the run), sometime in 2022, obtained “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”.
When the case was called yesterday, the prosecuting lawyer, Aminu Abdullahi, told the court that he was willing to withdraw the charge.
Abdullahi said a notice of discontinuance had been filed by the prosecution on the grounds that the parties had settled the matter.
The lawyer averred that the defendants and the nominal complainant (Uboh) had amicably resolved all the issues in dispute, adding that Uba and Etu hac repaid the N400 million involved in the charge to the nominal complainant.
The prosecuting lawyer said the notice of discontinuance was filed pursuant to Section 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
He urged the court to terminate any further proceedings in the case forthwith.
The lawyer to the defendants, C. F. Odiniru, said he was aware of the prosecution’s notice of withdrawal and was not opposed to it.
Odiniru urged the court to dismiss the charge rather than strike it out in view of the fact that the parties had settled.
He said his request for dismissal of the charge was in line with Section 108(3) of ACJA, 2015.
Ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar allowed the notice of discontinuance and struck out the charge and discharged Uba and Etu.
