August 24, (THEWILL) – A federal high court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Tuesday, August 23, ordered the seizure of vehicles belonging to Senator Andy Uba, over his failure to refund a N50 million loan obtained from Oranto petroleum limited.
Uba, a former governor of Anambra state, and the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the 2023 general election, is the debtor, in a case instituted against him by the petroleum company.
Oranto Petroleum is a pan-African oil exploration and production company owned by Nigerian multi-millionaire, Arthur Eze.
The seizure of Uba’s property was sequel to the judgement 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 region of the state.
The seized vehicles were impounded at Uba’s residence at 49 T.Y Danjuma street, Asokoro, Abuja.
Uba, during his trial, argued that the amount of money was a gift and donation from Arthur Eze, the owner of Oranto petroleum limited, for his political campaign.
Justice Mbonu, in his ruling, however, held that Uba as the defendant in the case had not outrightly denied receiving the friendly interest-free loan from the plaintiff.
The judge 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 judgement.
Justice Mbonu stated that, “The plaintiff has sufficiently shown that he granted interest-free friendly loan to the defendant which has not been denied, and since have not been repaid.
“In this circumstance, I enter judgement for the plaintiff in the sum of N50 million being the refund of interest-free loan granted to the defendant by the plaintiff at the request of the defendant,” he added.
The execution, which took place in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court as a result of a motion ex parte dated June 30, 2022, and filed on the same day, reads, “Leave is hereby granted to the plaintiff and judgement creditor to register the certificate of judgement 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 judgement of this court.
“An order of this honourable court, concerning the judgement of the high court of Anambra state in the judicial division at Ekwulobia, Anambra state, and delivered by Hon. (Justice) C.N. Mbonu-Nwenyi on the 6th day of March, 2017 in suit number AG/94/2016: Oranto petroleum limited vs Senator Emmanuel Andy Uba, as the judgement of this court is hereby granted.
“An order of the honourable court, directing the cost of the registration and execution of the judgement to be recoverable from the defendant or judgement debtor to an amount assessed by the court in the circumstances of this case, is also granted.”
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