And you are wondering why Nigeria is stunted when this man is a representative of the kind of men that preside over its affairs! Nigeria 
Saturday Sun Newspapers is reporting that about one billion Naira ($100,000.00) was invested in a voodoo (juju) project by a Nigerian government official and this is in a country where more than 80 percent of the population lives below abject poverty line (on less that 50 cent a day). At the centre of the storm is Mr. Sam Edem (pictured here right) a former diplomat and chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), an agency responsible for Niger Delta. What manner of man would engage in juju in this day and age of IPhone and Ipod, with men living in Space Stations? Addressing newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday, August 4, Mr. Edem admitted that a medicine man collected money running into hundreds of millions of Naira from him. And in a handwritten statement to the police, Mr. Sam Edem volunteered that the amount of money the "fraudster" collected from him was about N800 million Naira". 
But the medicine man claimed that it was payment for a job he did for Mr. Sam Edem and by him. According to his statement to the police, the medicine man claimed that Mr. Sam Edem contracted him to eliminate or incapacitate, by diabolical means, Mr. Timi
Alaibe, Managing Director of NDDC and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State as well as “work on the Vice President, Jonathan Goodluck (so that he can always obey him (Edem) and always support him if there is any plan to remove him from office)”. Continuing the medicine man said,that the petitioner used his own hands to burn the sum of two hundred and seventy million Naira while naked in a cemetery in Port Harcourt as part of the ritual. Based on the seriousness of the task he asked me to perform, I charged him N570 million wherein he paid N310 million deposit leaving a balance of N260 million. But after the expiration of the period within which the said Timi Alaibe was to die, the petitioner came to ask why the
charm did not work and I told him that his (Alaibe’s) spirit is too strong. On Governor Akpabio, Mr. Edem 
demanded a charm of influence which I prepared for him. I told him clearly to use the charm to touch Akpabio’s drink after which he should use it to touch the ground. Th charm affected the governor adversely that he was flown abroad for treatment. Being afraid that the governor may die, Mr. Edem came back for me to dilute the spell for which I charged him extra 50 fifty million Naira to secure the governor's life, which he gladly paid.
Denying the allegations, Mr. Edem retorted, the whole thing has a lot to do with 2011, which
they think I will contest the gubernatorial election. But I had told the governor that I will be one of those to lead him back to the government house in 2011. I will be a fool to try to destroy the governor whom I helped to bring to power. I don’t believe in pull-down syndrome. Akwa Ibom should rise as a group and condemn this syndrome. There is a campaign of calumny to smear my name. I can’t start now at 58 to plan killing somebody.”
Many people in Nigeria are outraged and scandalized that at this age, the country's leaders remain avid patrons of juju practitioners. Government by jujumen in Nigeria is the rock-bottom of a society dangerously accelerating towards a precipice. Not too long ago, Nigerians were treated to a macabre drama when the then godfather of Anambra State politics, Chris Uba told a bewildered nation that pursuant to making Dr. Chris Ngige governor of the state, the governor took an oath of loyalty at the notorious Okija shrine in Ihiala, Anambra State. Also a photograph showing the present
governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji in a fetish mode (here left pictured) going through power rituals in a shrine is equally instructive of the abysmal crass leadership Nigerians are punished with. One commentator said that the juju saga is a sad commentary on the country’s leadership-content. Continuing, it is indeed a great trage
dy that in this 21st century where contest of ideas make the difference, those occupying offices in this part of the world still pander to the queer and mundane. It is even more confounding when you consider the fact that many of the juju patrons are "educated" people, "enlightened" people who ought to know better. To which Icheoku asks what manner of primitive leaders do Nigerians have in their country?
According to reports reaching Icheoku.com, the Federal Government
t has directed 
the police and the EFCC to thoroughly investigate how the NDDC chairman, Mr. Sam Edem made the kind of money he allegedly lost to the sorcerer. It was gathered that the Presidency reasoned that if Edem could spend such amount, it means he has much more money than that while the people of the Niger Delta are wallowing in abject penury which feeds the militancy.
they think I will contest the gubernatorial election. But I had told the governor that I will be one of those to lead him back to the government house in 2011. I will be a fool to try to destroy the governor whom I helped to bring to power. I don’t believe in pull-down syndrome. Akwa Ibom should rise as a group and condemn this syndrome. There is a campaign of calumny to smear my name. I can’t start now at 58 to plan killing somebody.”
Many people in Nigeria are outraged and scandalized that at this age, the country's leaders remain avid patrons of juju practitioners. Government by jujumen in Nigeria is the rock-bottom of a society dangerously accelerating towards a precipice. Not too long ago, Nigerians were treated to a macabre drama when the then godfather of Anambra State politics, Chris Uba told a bewildered nation that pursuant to making Dr. Chris Ngige governor of the state, the governor took an oath of loyalty at the notorious Okija shrine in Ihiala, Anambra State. Also a photograph showing the present
governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji in a fetish mode (here left pictured) going through power rituals in a shrine is equally instructive of the abysmal crass leadership Nigerians are punished with. One commentator said that the juju saga is a sad commentary on the country’s leadership-content. Continuing, it is indeed a great trage
dy that in this 21st century where contest of ideas make the difference, those occupying offices in this part of the world still pander to the queer and mundane. It is even more confounding when you consider the fact that many of the juju patrons are "educated" people, "enlightened" people who ought to know better. To which Icheoku asks what manner of primitive leaders do Nigerians have in their country?According to reports reaching Icheoku.com, the Federal Government
t has directed 
the police and the EFCC to thoroughly investigate how the NDDC chairman, Mr. Sam Edem made the kind of money he allegedly lost to the sorcerer. It was gathered that the Presidency reasoned that if Edem could spend such amount, it means he has much more money than that while the people of the Niger Delta are wallowing in abject penury which feeds the militancy.
Disbelief, Shock Trail Arrest Of NDDC Chairman
ReplyDeletePays N150m To 'Juju' Man
Shock, Disbelief Trail Arrest
From John-Abba Ogbodo (Abuja) and Ayoyinka Olagoke (Uyo)
THE South-South parliamentary caucus of the House of Representatives yesterday expressed shock over the arrest by the police of the chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Sam Edem.
Fielding questions from The Guardian on telephone yesterday, the chairman of the South-South parliamentary caucus in the House of Representatives, Andrew Uchendu, described the incident as strange.
But he urged the police to thoroughly investigate the matter and if found to be true, "the law should take its course."
Similarly, Senator Effiong Bob, representing Uyo senatorial district, where Edem hails from, implored that the law should not be spared on the matter.
The police, at the weekend, stated that Edem was arrested over alleged money paid out to some native doctors to carry out some unlawful missions for him.
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Agbrebi Akpoebi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), the police said Edem was arrested following an allegation that he paid the sum of N150 million out of an agreed sum of N800 million to one Dr. Perekambowei Oga, a sorcerer.
This was to spiritually influence the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, to award him (Edem) juicy contracts and influence the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, to give him protection in the event of any problem.
The police also said that the contract involved the killing of the Managing-Director of the NDDC, Timi Alaibe.
According the statement, Edem and his alleged contractor had a disagreement over non-performance and failure to pay the contract sum in full, adding that the case was under investigation.
However, Uchendu said the development came to the members of the South-South Caucus as a shock, stressing he would not think that the NDDC chairman could get himself involved in that kind of attitude.
"It sounds strange to us," he said. "It is difficult to understand what will lead him to such action as alleged. But if it turned out to be true, it would be difficult to understand."
He said nobody had talked to the Caucus about it yet but emphasised that, "I will not think that he (Edem) could engage in that kind of thing."
"If the police carry out investigation and find out that he actually did it, then the law should take its course. But like I told you, we are yet to be briefed," he said.
Meanwhile, a member of the South-South caucus, Ike Chinwo, has appealed to the Federal Government to pay its debt to the NDDC, which, he said, could have achieved more if its funding had been properly done.
Chinwo, who expressed concern over the pathetic situation of the Niger Delta people, said it was saddening to note that the government was yet to pay its contribution to the commission amounting to about N240 billion.
He said: "As of now, Federal Government is yet to release the N240bn due to the commission. It is, indeed, very sad to note that such amount, which is due to the commission for the development of the Niger Delta, is yet to be released in spite of the developmental needs of the region as well as the challenges facing the commission."
The House member, who represents Obio/Akpo federal constituency in Rivers State, noted that though the commission had done well, the challenges facing the Niger Delta were still enormous.
Hence, he called on all stakeholders to prevail on the Federal Government to properly fund NDDC "so that peace can return to the region."
Don’t Politicise the ‘Vodoo Scam’, Group Warns Politicians
ReplyDeletePrint Friendly
Michael Dibie
A non-governmental organisation, the Concerned Niger Delta Citizens, has warned some political groups in the region to desist from politicizing the unfortunate voodoo scandal involving the suspended Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ambassador Sam Edem.
In a statement signed by Mr Duoye Diri, former Sports Commissioner in Bayelsa State, the group noted "that the ploy by a once-discredited group" called Patriotic Niger Delta Mothers to resume their campaign of calumny against other top members of the NDDC is nothing but malicious mischief.
It argued that "the unfortunate and unsuccessful plot of Ambassador Edem to kill Timi Alaibe cannot now be used as a ploy to visit him (Alaibe) with another kind of death by the so-called Patriotic Niger Delta Mothers.
"if they are truly mothers worth their breasts, they should rejoice over the failure of the plot, not introduce this base and dehumanizing politics into a matter as serious as life and death."
The Patriotic Niger Delta Mothers had in a paid advertisement yesterday claimed that the scam involving Edem was a vindication of their claim that the commission was corrupt and should be probed. The same group, three months ago, had made allegations against the commission in paid advertisements.
But Diri, in the statement, pointed out that there is no direct correlation between the "fetish quest" of Edem and the accountability or lack of it in the NDDC, and so "the ignoble plan of Edem, a part-time member of the Board, cannot now be used to justly undermine the commission and its operations," stressing that the NDDC has been executing its mandate dutifully.
Edem’s Case Didn’t Affect NDDC Funds – Abia
ReplyDeleteFrom Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt, 08.15.2008
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Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Bassey Dan Abia, yesterday said that the alleged N1 billion fraud perpetrated against their former Chairman, Ambassador Sam Edem, did not involve the Commission’s funds.
In a press statement made available to newsmen at the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission yesterday after the maiden but prolonged meeting of the Board under his direction, Abia stated that he wanted to assure the stakeholders that their objectives would not be affected by the development.
“We wish to state that there is no financial involvement of the Commission in the matter and we wish to reassure our stakeholders, as well as the public, that the accounts and operations of the Commission have passed all checks and balances and have been found to be in order”.
" Indeed, we hereby restate that we will continue to conduct the affairs of the commission with utmost decency, probity and transparency and respect to due process and the rule of law”, he said.
His clarification came as a militant group, Reformed Grand Alliance of Niger Delta, commended the operations of the commission, saying it was a good example of developmental efforts which should be supported rather than criticised or dumped.
President of the militant group, Prikoli Iwo and Secretary, Commander Samuel Ebiye, made the commendation and sought for more support for it to deliver more on its promises.
They expressed delight that the fraud on the former chairman did not affect the funds of the commission.
Police arraign suspended NDDC Chairman, Edem
ReplyDeleteFrom Lemmy Ughegbe and Florence Oretade, Abuja
THE Nigerian Police yesterday arraigned the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sam Edem, before an Abuja High Court for allegedly stealing N800 million from the commission.
Edem pleaded not guilty before the trial Justice, Olasunmbo Goodluck, who was informed that two of his alleged accomplices - Pere Kambowei Ogah and Kakas Amgbari - were at large.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Agbarebi Akpoebi, who confirmed Edem's arraignment in a statement made available to reporters in Abuja, said the police was closing in on the suspected fugitives.
Meanwhile, The Guardian learnt yesterday that pressure is being mounted on the EFCC not to charge officials linked to the diversion of unspent and received N1.7 billion of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) to court.
The quartet - a top-shot of the NJI, the late chief administrative officer, chief accountant and a principal engineer - had allegedly kept the unspent N1.7 billion in a commercial bank in violation of the President's directive that all unspent funds before December 28 be returned to the national treasury.
The officials had, in January this year, allegedly awarded 21 contracts back-dating same to December 10, 2007 as a way of circumventing the return of the fund.
The EFCC had swung into action when it received petition against the four but discovered that the N400 million mentioned in the petition was only a fraction of the total N1.7 billion.
Last Sunday, the EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development, but could not give details of the amount recovered.
An official claimed that the big guns at the Bar and Bench were on the commission's neck to drop the case, more so that three of the officials were said to have been dismissed whilst the top official was reported to have been sent on compulsory leave.
However, the EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, may have ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of principal actors mentioned in the scandal.
Investigation by The Guardian revealed that the officials involved have already had their appointments terminated following their suspension and discovery of their alleged diversion of the fund.
Earlier, sources had disclosed that the arraignment of the chairman of the institute and three others would soon be effected as investigation had been concluded on them.
One of the suspects was alleged to have returned part of the money after being quizzed by the investigation unit of the commission.
However, Babafemi who declined comment on the chairman's directive said that since the matter was within the mandate of the commission, the next line after investigation would be arrest and prosecution.
He explained that before the media report, the commission was already working on arrangements to prosecute the suspects mentioned in the scandal.
A report detailing the investigation of the unspent fund dated May, 2006 had listed nine officials of NJI as collaborators in the plot.
The same amount was posted to the Consolidated Account of the Federation. EFCC discovered that the Institute also recorded their overhead as N605, 596, 456.59 while personnel and capital account were N30, 157, 348.07 and N1.224, 284, 841.70 respectively.
The report concluded that the alleged January meeting held was a mere fabrication as Mr. A. Tambawal, representative of the Judicial Due Process and also a Deputy Director, Research Planning and Statistics at the National Judicial Council was never at the purported meeting but was lobbied to accept he attended.
The contracts awarded were for the supply of cars, computers, office furniture, television sets, water sprinklers, refrigerators, photocopy machines, internet facilities, rugs, air conditioners, window blinds, car tracking systems, construction of generator house and waste evacuation, among others.
NDDC chairman docked for N800m theft
ReplyDeleteFrom GODWIN TSA and LAMBERT TYEM Abuja
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Ambassador Sam Edem
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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After his arrest and detention at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, suspended Chairman of the Niger-Delta Development Commission [NDDC], Ambassador Sam Edem, was on Monday arraigned before an Abuja High court for stealing N800 million belonging to the Federal Government. Following his arrest by the police, President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua ordered his suspension. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation [SGF], Ambassador Baba Gana Kinggibe, had in a statement ordered his suspension following the allegations leveled against him.
According to the SGF, Edem “incurred expenditure on a large-scale, which cannot be accounted for by his own personal legitimate source of income.” Following his suspension, President Yar’ Adua further approved that the Akwa Ibom representative on the NDDC, Mr. Baasey Dan-Abia, act as the Chairman of the Commission.
The suspended NDDC boss was also arrested for alleged conspiracy to murder the NDDC Managing Director, Mr. Timi Alaibe, and attempt to ‘spiritually influence’ Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, to take some decision in his favour. He was also alleged to have paid the sum of N510 million out of the N800 million to a sorcerer, Dr. Perekambowe Ogah (alias Matthew Sonoma and Kakas Amgbari), who are both at large.
According to the police, “the sorcerer was to spiritually influence Governor Akpabio to award juicy contracts to Ogah and kill Mr. Timi Alaibe, the NDDC Managing Director, whom Edem believes to be an obstacle to having his way on decision-making in the commission. The spell was also meant to work on the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, to protect him [Edem], in the event of plans to remove him from the board of NDDC.
According to the police, Edem, having been frustrated by the inability of the sorcerer to fulfill his part of the bargain, reportedly demanded for refund of all the money he paid to the sorcerer, which he put at about N800 million. But on Monday, he was arraigned before Justice Olasumbo Goodluck over allegation that he spent about N800million to secure the services of a sorcerer to enable him secure contracts from the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godwill Akpabio. Although he pleaded not guilty to the offence, the police said the case is still under investigation as two of the suspects are yet to be arrested.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Agberebi Akpoebi, the suspended NDDC Chairman was charged to court in line with the provisions of the law.
Voodoo mess in NDDC
ReplyDeleteBy Sun Publishing
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Erapi G.E.
Editorial Index
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has taken an initially apt and right action in suspending Ambassador Sam Edem, the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from office on account of grave allegations of financial turpitude and moral bankruptcy of multi-dimensions. Sam Edem is alleged to have squandered sums close to a billion naira on voodoo and sorcery.
He is said to have, in instalments, given a sorcerer and quack doctor, Perekabowei Ogah, alias Matthew Sonoma, about N800 million for various purposes, including the retention of his job as Chairman of NDDC, which was alleged to be on shaky grounds, the murder of Timi Alaibe, the Managing Director of NDDC as well as the inducement of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, to soften their hearts towards him on some pending decisions.
It is gratifying that the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have already taken some practical steps of physically apprehending and detaining this high-ranking official for the scandalous and irresponsible acts which are not only tantamount to impropriety, gross mismanagement of public funds, murderous conspiracy against a chief executive of a federal parastatal, and voodooistic actions to spiritually demobilize the Vice President of this country and the chief executive of a State. He was also alleged to have personally burnt the sum of N270 million for fetish and ritualistic ends!
The seriousness of these scandalous actions of Edem requires no over-emphasis and the inherent implications are grave.
There is the issue of financial recklessness implicit in the suspected deployment of public funds, meant for the development of the Niger Delta, a critical security flash-point of this nation, for untoward and mean ends of self-preservation in office. The ease with which these funds are diverted calls to question the efficacy of the instrument of control of the disbursement of public funds through the Authority to Incur Expenditure.
The fact that these huge sums are being expended on sorcery and witchcraft alone—and a prima facie case has been established that Edem has expended sums to the sorcerer exists, by the evidence of his own confessions—shows that colossal NDDC funds may have been diverted by this officer through kleptomania and corrupt devices. However, it is gratifying to note that the Governing Board of the Commission has assured Nigerians that there is no financial involvement of the commission on the matter.
This caveat from the commission makes the source of Edem’s voodoo funds doubly questionable. The insensitivity, callousness and crass abuse of office involved in this nefarious act warrants a prompt prosecution and conviction of Edem as a deterrent for such acts which have become rampant among well-placed Nigerians who abuse public trust and confidence.
The practice of voodoo and maraboutism has become a common practice among Nigerians in sensitive leadership positions for self- perpetuation in power by invidious and fetish means and at all costs. The roundly condemnable case of Sam Edem, a man who has previously represented this country in diplomatic positions should be utilized as a warning for other highly placed Nigerians involved in mindless ritual practices involving the sacrifice of the lives of other Nigerians to secure and retain power.
Without pre-empting the outcome of the findings of the various security and judicial agencies handling the matter, there is the need for a prompt determination of Edem’s case, leading to a retrieval of all his loots and his conviction will assuage public outrage about his reprehensible actions. His accomplice, and co-swindler, Perekabowei Ogah, who is a prototype, no doubt, of mere con-men and advanced fraudsters, who manipulate gullible power and wealth seekers to defraud the nation, should also be prosecuted.
It is essential that the matter be rapidly concluded as nauseating sentiments have begun to be mounted by idle image launderers who are mounting puerile defence for Edem as a victim of sponsored image destroyers. A prima facie case of guilt has been provided by Edem himself, through confessional statements to the police. No effort should therefore be spared, in the national interest and in the interest of the anti-corruption crusade of government, to promptly bring Sam Edem to book.
N 800m voodoo: Edem knows fate Sept. 16
ReplyDeleteAn Abuja High Court today adjourned till Sept. 16, ruling on a bail application filed by Perekabowei Ogah, the second accused in the N800 million NDDC scam.
Ogah who is said to be a traditional doctor, filed the motion through his counsel, Mr.
Albert Akpomudja (SAN), following his arrest and detention by the Police.
He was arrested over an allegation of conspiracy and theft of N800 million belonging to NDDC, which also involved the former chairman of the commission, Sam Edem.
At the resumed hearing of the motion, Akpomudja urged the court to grant his client bail on the ground that no charge had been preferred against him.
He said the accused, arrested and granted bail in June by Zone 5 Police Headquarters, Benin, was re-arrested through an invitation at the Force Headquarters.
Akpomudja criticised the detention of his client on the ground that the Police
lacked the constitutional right to detain an accused beyond 24 hours, as stipulated by law.
``My client has been in the Police custody since Aug. 26 when he was re- arrested by the Police.
``The allegation against my client is that he defrauded Edem the N600 million he allegedly stole from NDDC.
``My Lord, the allegation is baseless because since Edem has not admitted stealing such money, there is no reason why my client should be in the Police custody.
``I therefore urge the court to grant my client bail because the prosecution has failed to give reasons why charges have not been preferred against him," Akpomudja said.
The Prosecution counsel, Mr. Simon Lough, in his argument, urged the court to discountenance the application of Ogah’s lawyer, on the ground that it lacked merit.
Lough told the court that there was the likelihood of the applicant jumping bail, considering the nature and the magnitude of the offence.
``The applicant had jumped bail in Zone 5 Headquarters and in a bid to avoid re-arrest, changed his name from Matthew Sonona to EJoor Tuwere Matthew and it took Police extra efforts to get him arrested.
``My lord, granting the applicant bail will jeopardise Police investigation aimed at recovering the stolen money and properties bought with part of it," Lough said.
Justice Olasumbor Goodluck therefore adjourned the matter to Sept. 16, for ruling
Native doctor saga: Suspended NDDC boss opens up
ReplyDeleteBy Jacob Edi, Abuja
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sam Edem
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Embattled Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), Ambassador Sam Edem said in Abuja at the weekend that his ordeal was a high profile political conspiracy and propaganda to destroy, dehumanize and simply to get rid of him as chairman of the NDDC by a combination of forces.
These forces, he claimed, were resident in Port-Harcout, Uyo and Abuja. Edem described as false all the allegations against him and appealed to President Umaru Yar’Adua and the Inspector-General of Police to institute a high level independent enquiry into his ordeal, saying that it was the only way of getting to the truth about his case.
Similarly, he denied allegations that he was planning to kill Timi Alaibe and Governor Godswill Akpabio, but said that they “played on the intricate power-play in the NDDC between the Chairman and the Managing Director and in other to provoke the MD’s wrath against me, they created and sold the dummy in which the native doctor was to confess that he was actually engaged and paid by me to kill Timi Alaibe.”
Edem, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja, refused to call specific names when pressed to do so but rather said that he was “a victim of a booby rap set for him by very powerful forces using his SSS details, Mr. Dennis Okenyi, whom I trusted, loved and treated like my own child.”
Speaking for the first time since the beginning of the crisis involving him in the native doctor saga, the suspended NDDC chairman insisted that his SSS detail was at the centre of a grand conspiracy with a fraud syndicate to dupe him.
He said: “It all started with a strange prayer proposal sent to me by a man who introduced himself as a pastor. This was at the instance of Okenyi. The supposed man of God came with a bible, a cross and a holy oil. Never in my widest imaginations did I know that I was dealing with a dangerous native doctor and fraudster until the bubble burst,” Edem said.
He continued: “One prayer session led to another. One prophesy led to another. Before I came to my senses, like any other victim of 419, I had been swindled a huge sum of money running into millions of naira.”
In addition to the possibility of a spell, the embattled Edem said the fraudsters were able to make a huge success of their scam simply because they were able to penetrate and recruit some of his most trusted aides.
Edem said he never imagined that Okenyi could be an enemy, and an informant insisting that Okenyi was also central to the conspiracy between the police and his political detractors in embarking on the destructive blackmail and propaganda designed to frustrate him in seeking justice.
According to Edem, the very day he was released on bail and arrested and detained by the police in Abuja was the day Okenyi escaped from Nigeria to an unknown country in Europe from where he has been calling him and asking for forgiveness.
In a desperate effort to convince his audience about his story, Edem said if he had any skeleton in his cupboard, or if he had any hidden dimension in the whole episode, he would never have taken the matter to the police, but Edem said he ran to the Zone 5 Police Command in Benin to report the fraud and to seek justice.
He alleged that after providing a graphic detail of the entire transactions and pleading with the Police to swing into action to recover the money and the cars, property and other items acquired with his money, including a hotel and a Saving account in one of the new generation banks, which the fraudsters used for the transaction, nothing was done by the police authorities.
He said his worries started when AIG Udom declined to commence investigation "on a fraud of this magnitude involving such a highly placed citizen and a fellow indigene of Akwa Ibom complaining that he lacked the necessary logistics to mobilize his men to swing into action."
Edem lamented that the police frustrated the case and assisted in turning it on him as all the vehicles- 10 newly acquired luxury Jeeps, and properties impounded from the native doctor, which should have remained as exhibit with the police, were released to him.
"The hotel was not taken over by the police and he was allowed to go to the Bank to pull out the millions of naira, which the police found in the account," he said.
On the allegations that he burnt cash amounting to about N270 million in a cemetery, Edem said the allegation was false and sought to know which bank paid out the money or how the said money was transferred.
Edem: Native Doctor Arraigned
ReplyDelete10.14.2008
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The Police yesterday arraigned a 34-year-old native doctor, Mathew Sonoma, alias, Perekam-bowei Ogah, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for defrauding ex--Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ambassador Sam Edem to the tune of N761million.
The second accused, Kakas Amgbari, is still at large.Sonoma pleaded not guilty to the charge but the judge ordered him remanded in Kuje prisons. The accused is facing a 15-count charge.
One of the counts on the charge sheet alleged that Sonoma sent many text messages threatening to kill Ambassador Edem and members of his family with his power if Edem failed to pay the monies demanded from him.
The native doctor was alleged to have fraudulently attempted to conceal the money extorted from the former NDDC chairman, through a transfer order, issued to his bank, Oceanic International Bank.
He had ordered the bank to transfer N152 million from his account, where the N761 million was paid, into another account belonging to him, under a different name, in the same bank.
The native doctor pleaded not guilty on all the 16 counts.Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered that Sonoma be remanded in Kuje Prison and issued a bench warrant on Kakas Amgbari to enable law enforcement agents apprehend him whenever he appears, and bring him to court for trial.He adjourned the case till 22 October, 2008, for the native doctor’s bail application to be heard, while the trial proper was fixed for 19 November, 2008.