At 65, Senator Andy Uba carries the aura of someone who has walked the corridors of power—and fallen through its cracks. From being a presidential aide to briefly governing Anambra State for just 17 days in 2007 before the Supreme Court swept away his mandate, Uba has seen the highs and lows of Nigerian politics. But now, he’s caught in one of his biggest legal battles yet—this time not for power, but for his freedom.
The former senator is facing a criminal trial over an alleged N400 million fraud involving a high-stakes promise: the purported appointment of a Managing Director for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The case, which has simmered for over a year, pits Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, against federal prosecutors and a pile of damning evidence—including documents and voice recordings.
What makes this case so explosive isn’t just the money. It’s the suggestion that high-ranking political actors may have dangled influential federal appointments like bargaining chips. According to the charges, Uba and his alleged accomplices approached businessman George Uboh with claims they could secure the coveted NDDC MD position—for a price.
Uboh said he paid, but the deal fell through.
For months, the case appeared stuck in limbo after the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) called for the file to review its merits. But with the AGF now giving the Inspector-General of Police the green light to proceed, the prosecution is back in full force. The Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has confirmed there’s a prima facie case against Uba, Etu, and one Hajiya Fatima, who is currently on the run.
Despite the court’s schedule for arraignment, Uba was absent during Monday’s session, reportedly receiving medical attention in the U.S. His lawyer claimed the issue had been “settled,” suggesting that the money had been returned. But the prosecution isn’t backing down. They’re insisting on a criminal plea—and accountability.
The courtroom drama continues September 24, but what’s unfolding here is more than just legal fireworks. It’s a look into how deep transactional politics has entrenched itself in Nigeria’s public appointments. And at the center of it all is a man who once governed for only 17 days, now fighting to keep his name—and freedom—from disappearing completely.
The question isn’t just whether Andy Uba will be convicted. It’s whether this case will finally mark a turning point where influence-peddling is treated as more than just “the Nigerian way”—and as the crime that it is.
