Uboh was arrested on May 15, 2019, at his Maitama office in Abuja by officers led by Superintendent Stanley Kwaphoor, under the supervision of then-Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mike Ogbizi, from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has dismissed all charges against whistleblower and anti-corruption advocate Dr. George Uboh.

This is coming more than six years after he was arrested, detained, and dragged through the Nigerian judicial system for allegedly defaming then-Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele.

Uboh was arrested on May 15, 2019, at his Maitama office in Abuja by officers led by Superintendent Stanley Kwaphoor, under the supervision of then-Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mike Ogbizi, from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID). 

According to Uboh, the arrest came shortly after he publicly challenged the reappointment of Emefiele as CBN Governor, citing allegations of corruption.

The police had charged Uboh with criminal defamation in suit number FCT/HC/CR/366/2019, but the case lingered in court for years without any meaningful progress. 

Despite spending over 120 days in detention, Uboh was neither convicted nor given access to his confiscated properties.

A court order issued on Monday, June 16, 2025, has dismissed the case and discharged the defendant, bringing a legal end to the prolonged ordeal.

“Upon the matter coming up for hearing and upon the application of Idumodin Ogumu Esq., counsel for the defendant, for the charge to be dismissed due to the absence of the prosecution counsel and witnesses, it is hereby ordered as follows: Pursuant to Section 351(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the charge is dismissed. The defendant is discharged,” the ruling stated.

Following the court’s decision, Uboh on Monday, June 23, 2025, wrote a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, requesting the return of his seized items.

The letter reads in part: “On May 15, 2019, officers from the Nigeria Police Force came to my office No. 11, Nun Street, Block 1, Suite 5, Maitama, Abuja led by SP Stanley Kwaphoor under then-DIG Mike Ogbizi, FCID. The officers searched and seized certain items.”

He attached an inventory of the seized items, labelled “Exhibit A”, which bore the signatures of the involved officers, his secretary, and himself. 

“I was arrested and whisked away to Area 10, FCID immediately,” Uboh recalled.

Giving a summary of his ordeal, Uboh stated: “I was charged with defamation of character in the case of IGP V. George Uboh. After spending over 120 days in detention and after I successfully transferred the case to an unbiased judge, the police prosecutors led by Simon Lough stopped coming to court. The judge, on Monday June 16, 2025, DISMISSED the case and DISCHARGED me.”

He added that with the dismissal of the case, the police had no more legal grounds to hold on to his properties.

“Given the fact that the case cannot be brought up any longer, the need for the police to assert dominion over my property has dissipated. Accordingly, I humbly request that the IGP DIRECT the legal department and the IPOs to return all items seized as itemised in attached exhibit 'A',” he wrote.

Uboh listed some of the seized items and documents that have yet to be returned as follows: Apple Mac Laptop (Macbook Pro); Sony Laptop, Model PCG-7184M, S/N: 275060505015390; iPhone 6s Plus; Samsung Duos; iPhone 5; iPad; Nokia 1034; GTbank Cheque book; and Zenith Bank Cheque bearing panic ‘Alert Security System Ltd.

Others are eight CDs; six flash drives; two ID cards bearing Dr. George Uboh; Barr Johnmay’s file FHC/ABJ/CS/505/2019; eight other asset recovery service files, blue in colour; letter numbered: GUWA CBN Emefiele/030415/01; GUNN/MOF/WBO/29041; Proposal for Bureau of Integrated Technologies - two copies and two copies of The Department of Homeland Security write-up by President George W. Bush and letter dated April 21, 2016 to Chairman, Presidential Committee against corruption.