Man seeking to stop Emefiele’s confirmation has history of conviction in Nigeria, US

George Uboh, a member of the defunct Police Equipment Foundation, who is seeking to stop the confirmation of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, for a second term by the Senate, has a history of conviction in Nigeria and the United States of America.

Uboh, according to available information, has gone to court to stop Emefiele’s reconfirmation by the Senate.

In an interview he granted Roots TV, he made unproven allegations against Emefiele, including alleged diversion of $2.5 billion and complicity in the reduction of the fine MTN paid for the unregistered sim infractions and repatriation of funds.

However, a check on Uboh’s background showed he had been convicted of fraud-related crimes in both the US and Nigeria, with the Nigerian judge giving him an option of fine.

Uboh, who sensationally accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of diverting proceeds of recovered assets, was on April 25, 2016 convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment by Justice S. E. Aladetoyinbo of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, for his role in converting the property of the defunct PEF to his own use.

Udoh was also during the period quizzed by operatives of the Department of State Services.

According to a statement on the website of the EFCC:

Uboh was arraigned by the EFCC on a three count charge which bordered on Criminal Breach of Trust involving the sale of PEF vehicles.

He allegedly abused his position as former Head of Security and Communication Department, Police Equipment Foundation to convert the properties of the foundation to his personal use.

The charge reads: “That you, George Uboh, sometime in 2007 in Abuja, the judicial division of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, being a servant in the employment of the Police Equipment Foundation, and in such capacity entrusted with certain property, to wit: six units of operational vehicles, did commit criminal breach of trust by selling one Toyota Hilux pick-up van through one Egbon Blessing, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the penal code

“That you, George Uboh, sometime in 2007 in Abuja, the judicial division of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, being a servant in the employment of the Police Equipment Foundation, and in such capacity entrusted with certain property, to wit: six units of operational vehicles, did commit criminal breach of trust by selling one Toyota Hilux pick-up vans to Muha Motors, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the penal code.

“That you, George Uboh, sometime in 2007 in Abuja, the judicial division of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, being a servant in the employment of the Police Equipment Foundation, and in such capacity entrusted with certain property, to wit: six units of operational vehicles, did commit criminal breach of trust by selling two units of Toyota Hilux pick-up vans, and therefore committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the penal code.”

He had pleaded not guilty, thus setting the stage for full trial during which the prosecution called several witnesses to prove its case.

Uboh claimed that the former National Coordinator, PEF, Kenny Martins, gave him some PEF vehicles to offset the debt owed him by the Foundation.

However, during cross-examination, he admitted that he did not have any evidence of transfer of ownership of the vehicles from PEF.

“I know the vehicles belong to PEF. But it was to offset the debt owed me. The Hilux pickup vans are four and not five,” Uboh said.

With his conviction today, Uboh who runs a company called Panic Alert Security System (PASS), completes a double as a certified fraudster having previously been convicted of wire fraud in the United States.

He was prosecuted after US law enforcement agents carried out a major raid on a credit card and bank fraud ring led by Uboh in Georgia in 1992.

He came out of jail on January 16, 2001.

Fifteen years after, he is back in jail.

However, Justice Aladetoyinbo gave Uboh an option of N4 million fine.