Uwajeh denies Andy Uba’s blackmail allegation

The crisis between Senator Andy Uba and his one time attorney, Evangelist Victor Uwajeh gets tougher as Uwajeh, on Wednesday denied blackmailing Uba.

In a press briefing yesterday, in reaction to Uba’s recent petition to the Inspector General of Police accusing his former attorney of blackmail, intent to extort money etc, Uwajeh refuted the allegation and dismissed it by wave of a hand.

Uwajeh told newsmen that Uba cannot elude blackmail now that a case had been filed against him at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory since 2016 for payment of £1.9 million he owed him (Uwajeh).

In the suit against Uba, marked FHC/ABJ/CV/2063/2016, Evangelist Victor Uwajeh is praying the court for an order directing the defendant (Andy Uba) to pay him £1.9 million (based on the prevailing exchange rate), being the professional fees for services he rendered to him and pursuant to his two Power of Attorneys dated 28/12/12 and 5/1/13 and a Letter of Authority dated 2/2/13 addressed to the UK Border Agency which Uba issued in his favour.

He also, among other reliefs, seeks am order directing Uba to pay him, “10 percent interest per annum on the sum of £1.9 million pounds from 10/5/16 until the judgement of the court and subsequently at the rate of 21 percent per annum until the judgment sum is liquidated.”

In his statement of claim, Uwajeh said he came in contact with Uba in 2012, when he needed assistance in setting aside an arrest warrant issues against him with respect to his property by the State of California in the United States.

In his narration, Uwajeh said it all started when he came in contact with Senator Uba over his issues with British authority, which led to his ban from UK in 2008.

“He engaged my services and wanted me to lift the exclusion ban placed on him by UK authorities,” he said and added that he handled all the court cases for him.

“I submitted my bills, only for him to start being evasive”, he said and however admitted that Uba paid $143,330.00 through deposits made by his staff, Chike Okeke, adding that the total amount of pounds paid into account no. 0023714301 was £85.810.00.

Uwajeh disclosed that the monies were for logistics he used in fulfilling the duties and responsibilities contained in the Power of Attorney, and not professional fees.

On September 17, 2013, Uwajeh said he applied for payment of his professional fees for services rendered in 2012 which was £350,000.00; and on 17/9/15, adding that, he applied for the payment of his professional fees from 2011-2015 being £1,550,000.00.

“The defendant, upon the receipt of both letters begged the plaintiff to give him time to work out the payment modalities. But he never did anything. He started avoiding the plaintiff and stopped taking his calls” Uwajeh stated.

“In a bid to have him pay me for the legal services rendered him, I approached the court in 2016, and he even hired a lawyer who entered memorandum of appearance.”

Uwajeh’s suit against Uba, before the High Court of the Federal High Court is coming up on April 27, for hearing.