Andy Uba Says Arthur Eze Lied; “I’m Not Owing Him N50m”, He Insists

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Andy Uba has faulted the Court judgement which gave room to the impounding of his cars from his Abuja home over an alleged N50 million debt owed to businessman, Chief Arthur Eze.

Eze had gone to Court to compel Senator Uba to pay him back an alleged interest free loan his company, Oranto Petroleum Limited, gave to Ubah in 2015 to prosecute his Senatorial ambition.

Having received a positive judgement from an  Ekwulobia, Anambra High Court, Chief Eze proceeded,  to an Abuja Court for its implementation. On Thursday, he got the nod, prompting the invasion of Ubah’s home by Court officials and the Police who proceeded to cart away Ubah’s cars.

But reacting to the incident in a statement on Friday, Ubah said he took no such loan from Eze, and so was not owing him in any way.

He revealed that the N50m in question, was freely given to him by Eze, without any sort of prompting, the day Eze attended a Church Service at the St James Anglican Church in Ubah’s Community, Uga, Anambra State. He also revealed that Eze gave the cheque to the Priest in-charge, and announced that it was to help him, Ubah, prosecute his Senatorial ambition. Senator Ubah backed this claim with a video evidence where Eze made the announcement in the Church.

He, also, explained that when Eze got a judgement from the Ekwulobia; Anambra High Court, he, Ubah, cried foul, and proceeded to the Appeal Court. He said he was, however, prevailed upon by mutual friends to drop the case. Thereafter, he posited,  he went to Eze’s house, accompanied by a mutual friend, and it was sorted out.

Uba said he was, therefore, shocked that Eze clandestinely proceeded to an an Abuja Court to get an execution order on the Ekwulobia High Court judgement over which he was prevailed upon not to appeal, but to let sleeping dogs lie.

Following is Senator Andy Ubah’s statement.

“My attention has been drawn to the defamatory, maligning and  character injurious publications in the print and electronic medium, as well as social media platforms on malicious falsehood and allegations arising from the execution of judgement of high court of Anambra state in suit no: AG/94/2016, through the bailiffs of the high court of the federal capital territory Abuja on 23/8/2022.

“It is fundamentally imperative to unequivocally state in clear and categorical terms the true factual position, thus:

“in the course of the said church service, prince Arthur Eze made a donation of N50,000,000 (fifty million naira only) to support my senatorial political campaign on the altar and the entire congregant were engulfed with joy and happiness which made the officiating priest extend a warm hand shake of gratitude and appreciation for his kind gesture, which i equally sent a letter of appreciation dated 22/2/2015 to prince Arthur Eze. the letter is herein attached.

“I was totally dumbfounded, surprised and flabbergasted having learnt that my bossom friend and brother, had through his company oranto petroleum limited through which the said cheque of N50,000,000 (fifty million naira only) was drawn had filed an action one year after at the high court of Anambra state, Aguata division sitting at Ekwulobia in suit no: AG/94/2016, through what they called (undefended list) procedure or liquidated money demand or summary judgment procedure.

“The pertinent question in the lips of many people would be, do people go to the roof tops to praise or thank others for granting them loan facilities? how many people have you seen that secured a loan facility from a bank or an individual and went to church praising the creditor for granting them such a loan facility which would only be repayed?

“I quickly engaged my lawyers who filed my defence on the merit denying the allegations that the said money was a loan but a free will donation, unfortunately despite our obvious defence and issues having been joined, the trial court refused and failed to afford us fair hearing by having the matter heard on full blown trial where witnesses will be called and evidence led, but proceeded to hear the matter on (undefended list) procedure or summary judgment procedure,

“That is, hearing the case on only the allegations and documents filed by the plaintiff (Oranto Petroleum Limited) without contradiction. the court went ahead to grant all the reliefs and entered judgement in favour of the plaintiff on 6/3/2017.

“in exercise of my constitutional right, i lodged an appeal at the court of appeal enugu culminating to senator Andy uba –vs- oranto petroleum limited, appeal no: ca/e/197/2017, challenging the said decision of the high court of Anambra state among other things, on the ground that the said money was a free will donation and not a loan as well as a challenge that hearing the matter on undefended list without my input amount to breach of my fundamental right to fair hearing guaranteed under section 36 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which occasioned a miscarriage of justice.

“In view of the above, parties filed and exchanged their respective briefs of argument and the appeal set down for hearing on the 26th February, 2019.

“However, there was an intervention by some Anambra stakeholders and i was approached by prince Austin Ndigwe (Uzu-Awka) who is a mutual friend of myself and Prince Arthur Eze for amicable settlement of the matter out of court.

“I was thereupon, after a meeting between myself and prince Arthur Eze at his enugu residence which was championed by prince Austin Ndigwe (Uzu-Awka), instigated by way of advice to withdraw the appeal on the ground that prince Arthur Eze had then become satisfied that the money was actually a donation for my senatorial political campaign and not a loan as he was meant to believe earlier.

“Prince Arthur Eze persuaded me through the said Prince Austin Ndigwe (Uzu Awka) to discontinue the appeal and in order to demonstrate good faith and brotherliness, i quickly instructed my lawyer to withdraw the appeal, despite the fact that we ought to extract terms of settlement as a condition because the appeal was at the concluding stage. consequently, based on the notice of withdrawl filed by my lawyer, the appeal was dismissed by the court of appeal on 29th February, 2019.

“I was deeply astonished and shocked beyond bone marrow when i learnt that my brother and mutal friend, prince Arthur Eze despite his undertakings at the meeting had reneged his promises on gentlemanly and brotherly agreement we had and surprisingly surfaced in the high court of the federal Capital Territory Abuja, registered and immediately executed the said judgement of the high court of anambra state, Aguata division sitting at Ekwulobia. the subject matter of my appeal to the court of appeal enugu, with the sole intention to embarrass, defame and reduce my reputation before the right thinking members of the public using numerous hired social media platforms.

“For purposes of clarity, i attached herewith a video clip of Prince Arthur Eze’s donation of N50,000,000 to my political campaign for election into the senate of the federal republic of Nigeria to represent Anambra south senatorial district in the senate of the national assembly, made at st. James Anglican Church Aga, Aguata LGA, Anambra state.

“This is contrary to the information being circulated in several print and electronic medium, as well as social media platforms to the effect that the above sum was a free interest friendly loan, which is a calculated attempt to defame and malign my noble character and hard earned reputation.

it is shocking and baffling how a man will stand on the sacred altar of god and donate to the political aspiration and campaign of his brother, of which the officiating priest extended a warm hand shake of gratitude and appreciation for his kind gesture and later turn around to deny the purpose of the donation.

“i have deep respect for rule of law and sanctity of our judicial system with unblemished political career as a devoted public figure, former governor of Anambra state, former senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, former special assistant on special duties and domestic affairs to president Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as loving father, dedicated Christian and law abiding citizen of this great nation, strongly believe that justice will be done in the final analysis.

“i therefore call on the general public, men and women of good will as well as political friends and supporters, business associates and family members, with enduring passion for justice, fair play and equity, to remain calm.”