Senator Andy Uba’s alleged school certificate forgery scandal appears to be getting messier as his one-time attorney; Evangelist Victor Uwajeh has opened up on the issue.
Briefing the press on Wednesday, 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 in its entirety.
He explained that Uba cannot claim blackmail now when in fact a case had been filed against him at the Federal Capital Territory High Court since 2016 for payment of £1.9million Pounds he owed him (Uwajeh).
“So, we have been in court since 2016, and I do not know why he is alluding blackmail; all what he said are fallacies and that is why I am putting the records straight.
On the certificate saga, he further confirmed that the WAEC certificate of Uba is fake based on a letter the council wrote to the UK authority for clarification.
“Though, he denied blowing whistle on Uba’s alleged fake WAEC certificate, however he said having deposed to an affidavit before the court on all that transpired between him and Uba, “the documents and facts contained therein have all become public documents.
“His school certificate issue is not my business, let the world take action on that. My interest is for him to pay me” Uwajeh stated.
However, 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 the sum of £1.9million pounds (based on the prevailing exchange rate) being the professional fees for services rendered by the plaintiff to the defendant 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 issued by the defendant in favour of the plaintiff.
“An order directing the plaintiff to collect the original copies of his original academic certificates being the Doctorate Degree with Buxton University dated 20/12/96, Degree Certificate in Science from Concordia University Montreal, Canada dated 31/5/84 and origin WAEC certificate with certificate no. SC544753 and candidate no. 05465089 from Boys High School, Awkunanaw, Enugu all in the name of the defendant, which certificate he gave to the plaintiff in the course of acting as his lawful attorney.
“10% interest per annum on the sum of £1.9million pounds from 10/5/16 until the judgement of the court and subsequently at the rate of 21% per annum until the judgment sum is liquidated.
In his statement of claim, Uwajeh stated 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.
After several meetings, the defendant issued the plaintiff durable Power of Attorney on 28/12/12, and was assigned specifically as it relates; The case known as People of the State of California against Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba, case no. LAW754622; the case known as People of the California v. Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba, case no. LAHOHY05125, and the property known as 7012N.LA Tiger Blvd Los Angeles, California.
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; the ban was cited as a result of his criminal activities.
“All these court cases were successfully discharged by me and afterwards, I submitted my bills, only for him to start being evasive.
Uwajeh admitted that Uba paid $143,330.00USD through deposits made by his staff Chike Okeke, adding that the total amount of pounds paid into account no. 0023714301 was £85.810.00 pounds.
However, 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, Uwajeh stated 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.
The case is coming up on April 27.
