Atika Balal
2 July 2009
Abuja — Former Chairman of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Sam Edem yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that threats made by the accused person in a fraud suit filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) made him part with the sum of N715 million.
Earlier it was alleged that the accused, Matthew Sonoma had duped Edem of huge sums of money under the pretext of being a herbalist but Edem who appeared yesterday as witness in court said the accused was introduced to him as a pastor.
He said after he realized that the accused was a fraud he kept at a distance but the accused kept threatening him through text messages and phone calls demanding for more money.
"At first I gave him money as a token but he later came back and asked for a loan. Whenever I refused to give him more, my security aid will advise that I cooperate to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and I did. At various times he threatened me, attacked my convoy and even threatened to bomb my wife's school in Uyo. I was concerned because there are over 3000 students in that school. I was forced to part with more money," he said.
Sonoma who is facing a 15-count charge for fraudulently obtaining N715million from Edem pleaded not guilty.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had suspended Edem for allegedly spending N270 million on rituals. He, alongside Perekambowe Ogah and Kakas Amgbari who is still at large are principal suspects in the scam.
Edem was interrogated at the Force Headquarters on money spent on alleged rituals and plots to kill the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio and the Managing Director of NDDC, Mr. Timi Alaibe.
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