Uba has a history of controversy, whether in political, business, or personal disputes. Most recently, he was embroiled in a controversy over a N50 million debt he owed renowned businessman Arthur Eze, which resulted in the seizure of some of his cars when he refused to pay. He had allegedly promised to make a monthly N1 million instalment payment but failed to do so. When the matter was brought up in court, he denied receiving any loan from Eze.
The news of Uba's arrest has raised many questions and speculations, as the reasons for his arrest have not been made public. Some speculate that it may be related to the upcoming Anambra State governorship elections, in which Uba is a candidate, while others believe it may be related to his controversial past.
Reacting to the news of his arrest, Uba's spokesperson, Joseph Itazi, said, “We don’t know why he was arrested. We are in the dark like everyone else. We are waiting for more information from the police.”
The police have not released any statement on Uba's arrest, and the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, stated, “No report like that before me.” However, it is known that Uba was arrested by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit.
This is not the first time Uba has been involved in a legal tussle. In 2019, he was sued by a group of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) members who alleged that he presented forged certificates to contest the 2019 Anambra South senatorial election. The matter is still pending in court.
Uba is also known for his controversial political history. In 2007, he was sworn in as governor of Anambra State for just 17 days before being removed by the Supreme Court. The court ruled that his election was invalid, and Peter Obi was declared the rightful winner of the election.
In 2014, he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, where he was given a waiver to contest the governorship primaries. He lost the primaries to Tony Nwoye but was later given the party's ticket after a court ruled that Nwoye's victory was invalid. He went on to lose the governorship election to Willie Obiano of the APGA.
Uba's arrest has been met with mixed reactions, with some calling for transparency and due process, while others are celebrating his arrest. However, until the reasons for his arrest are made public, it remains unclear what the implications of his arrest will be on the upcoming governorship elections in Anambra State.