N50m debt: Court, police seize Andy Uba’s cars

Officials of the Execution Unit of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, working with officers of the Nigeria Police Force, on Tuesday, seized vehicles belonging to Senator Andy Uba in his Abuja residence over a N50 million debt resulting from a loan he took from Oranto Petroleum Limited.

Uba, a one-time three-day Governor of Anambra State, and a governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in the recently concluded elections in Anambra, is the debtor, in a case instituted against him by Oranto Petroleum.

The seizure of Uba’s property was sequel to the judgment of an Anambra State High Court delivered on March 6, 2017, in a case presided over by Justice Mbonu Nwenyi of the Aguata Judicial Division Ekwulobia.

Oranto Petroleum is a Pan-African oil exploration and production company owned by Nigerian multi-millionaire, Arthur Eze.

The seized Jeep vehicles were impounded at Uba’s residence at No. 49 T.Y Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

In his ruling, the judge held that Uba as the defendant in the case had not denied receiving the friendly interest-free loan from the plaintiff.

The court further held that, having gone through the statement of defence of the defendant, the defendant had not disclosed any good defence to the suit and in such circumstance the plaintiff was entitled to the judgment.

Justice Mbonu stated, “The Plaintiff has sufficiently shown that she granted interest-free friendly loan to the defendant which has not been denied and since have not been repaid.

“In the circumstances I enter judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of N50 million being refund of interest-free loan granted to the defendant by the plaintiff at the request of the defendant.”

Mrs Ugochi Obajekwe with the brief of Chief Tugbe Ike appeared for the plaintiff, while G.N Onovo with the brief of Chima Oguejiofor appeared for the defendant.

The execution took place in Abuja as a result of a motion ex parte dated May 5, 2022, and filed same date praying the court for some reliefs and subsequent order of the FCT High Court dated June 30, 2022 as follows:

“Leave is hereby granted the plaintiff/judgment creditor/applicant to register the certificate of judgment of the High Court of Anambra State in the Aguata Judicial Division holden at Ekwulobia and delivered by Hon. (Justice) C.N. Mbonu-Nwenyi on the 6th day of March, 2017 in suit no. AG/94/2016:Oranto Petroleum Ltd Vs Senator Nnamdi Emmanuel Andy Uba as the judgment of this Court.

“An order of this Honourable Court deeming the judgment of the High Court of Anambra State in the Judicial Division holden at Ekwulobia and delivered by Hon. (Justice) C.N. Mbonu-Nwenyi on the 6th day of March, 2017 in suit no. AG/94/2016: Oranto Petroleum Ltd VS Senator Nnamdi Emmanuel Andy Uba as the judgment of this Court is hereby granted.

“An order of the Honourable Court directing the cost of the registration and execution of the judgment to be recoverable from the Defendant/Judgment Debtor/Respondent to an amount assessed by the Court in the circumstances of this case is hereby granted.

“The order was issued in Abuja, under the seal of the court and the hand of the presiding judge this 30th day of June 2022.”