Twist in the Tale
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Perekabowei Ogah, the native doctor in the one billion Naira juju scandal involving the suspended NDDC chairman, has been arraigned at an Abuja court
Perekabowei Ogah, the self-acclaimed native doctor at the centre of the N1 billion juju scandal involving Sam Edem, the suspended chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, will on Tuesday, September 16, know whether he would be granted bail. The Abuja high court had on Wednesday deferred ruling to the bail application filed by Ogah who is also known as Mathew Sonoma.
But Ogah’s counsel, Albert Akpomudia, argued that his client has no case to answer since Edem had already denied stealing any money belonging to the NDDC. Ogah was arrested and detained by the police on August 26, three weeks after he was declared wanted. He was subsequently arraigned before an Abuja High Court over allegation of conspiracy and theft of money belonging to NDDC. But he claimed he does not understand why the police should arrest and detain him. He said his relationship with the former NDDC chairman followed the lawful services he rendered to him as a native doctor.
Ogah had approached the court on September 4, to seek bail, but his prayer was unsuccessful because of the argument by Simon Lough, the prosecuting counsel that he was yet to be served the application. Lough, however, urged the court to adjourn the case.The juju priest told the court that he was arrested and detained for no just cause.
Ogah had in June 2008 signed a confessional statement with the police, claiming that Edem contracted him to eliminate or incapacitate Timi Alaibe, managing director of NDDC and Godswill Akpabio, governor of Akwa Ibom State by diabolical means. Ogah claimed in his statement that the suspended NDDC boss had burnt a N270 million at the cemetery while stark naked as part of the rituals. The police say N300 million has been discovered in Ogah’s bank account, but it is not yet known whether the amount would be confiscated. Ogah was first investigated after Sam Edem lodged a complaint with the police in Port Harcourt that he defrauded him. Ten cars found in the juju man’s residence. He says he is a car freak.
The role of the former NDDC boss in the scandal has infuriated not a few Nigerians.
He claimed he was hypnotised by Ogah, but many feel he is not telling the whole truth. His suspension was ordered by president Umaru Yar’Adua.
Mike Okiro, inspector-general of police, said in a statement on August 7 that Edem was arrested over allegation of paying N510 million out of N800 million he had promised Ogah. He was, however, granted bail on August 20, by an Abuja high court in the sum of N50 million and two sureties in the like sum. But one week after the bail was granted, Edem could not meet the bail conditions.
He then filed an application seeking the court to vary the conditions. He said it was extremely difficult for him to get two sureties with bank guarantees of N50 million each. He pleaded with the court to allow him deposit the certificate of occupancy of one of his properties in Abuja as a bail security. The court then ruled in his favour.
Before the arrest of Ogah, the juju man had on June 18, dragged Edem to a high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, asking for the payment of his professional fee. Ogah claimed that he was a licensed traditional herbal practitioner, residing in Bomadi, Delta State whose professional services were secured by Edem sometime last year.
According to him, the services he rendered to Edem included treatment for sexual virility, securing of contracts, job security and general protection. He said he was also requested to eliminate or incapacitate Alaibe and Akpabio, which he claimed he did not carry out based on moral grounds. He said the cost of the job he did for Edem was N500 million out of which the suspended NDDC boss paid NI50 million.
Apart from the balance of N350 million demanded by the juju priest, he also asked for the payment of N10 million as general damages, including the cost of hiring lawyers for the suit.
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