Nigeria’s ex-Senator’s cars seized over unpaid N50 million loan

The Federal Capital Territory High Court Execution unit in collaboration with operatives of the Nigerian Police on Tuesday seized cars belonging to the former Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district, Andy Uba.

The ex-lawmaker took loan of N50 million from Oranto Petroleum Limited to prosecute his political ambition which he has defaulted.

Uba was the immediate past governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent election which was won by the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo.

The seizure was ordered by the Federal High Court as means of recovering the loan after he was sued by the creditor – Oranto Petroleum.

The said judgement that saw Uba’s cars confiscated was delivered on March 6, 2017 by Justice Mbonu Nwenyi of the Aguata Judicial Division Ekwulobia.

The oil company is owned by a Nigerian billionaire, 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 confirmed that the embattled lawmaker agreed to receiving the friendly interest free loan in his defence, but which he didn’t however, 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.”