Alleged Conspiracy/False Claims: Senator Ubah for arraignment, October 18

•As judge orders the issuance of criminal summons against him 

Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, ordered that criminal summons be issued on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and his company, Capital Oil and Gas Limited in Charge No. FHC/L/383C/2019 pending before it.

The judge arrived at the decision consequent upon the eight-count charge filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) against Ubah because of his indebtedness to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) sometime in 2019, which includes conspiracy in making false claims in relation to the actual values of certain assets transferred to AMCON under a consent judgment obtained in 2012 contrary to Section 54(1) of the AMCON Act.

While proceedings lasted on the matter, the prosecutor, Tunde Lawal told the court that the defendants had been served with the amended charge and hearing notice of the day.

The prosecutor further informed the court that at the last adjourned date, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was absent from court and a hearing notice of that date was also served on him.

Lawal therefore urged Justice Oweibo to issue a bench warrant against Ubah.

Responding, the defendants' counsel, Ifeoma Esom, reminded the court that the matter was for a report of settlement/plea and that they were just informed that the settlement had failed, and it was based on settlement that the 1st defendant was not in court.

However, in responding, Lawal, insisted that settlement cannot be reported on the matter as it is a criminal case, adding that parties may choose to settle outside the court but cannot make that part of the business of a criminal court and the best that can happen is plea bargain while also noting that settlement outside court does not give the 1st defendant, Ubah, the authority to be absent from Court.

In his decision, Justice Oweibo refused to issue a bench warrant but ordered that a summons be served on Senator Ubah through his counsel, to appear in court on the next date.

The judge equally stated that at the next adjourned date, if Senator Ubah fails to appear in court, a warrant will be issued for his arrest.

Justice Oweibo adjourned the matter until October 18, 2023, for arraignment.

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