Herbalist: Jailed for Defrauding NDDC ex-Boss of N715 million

Herbalist: Jailed for Defrauding NDDC ex-Boss of N715 million
The Federal High Court, Abuja Division yesterday sentenced a 34-year-old herbalist, Mathew Sonoma, to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defrauding a diplomat, Ambassador Sam Edem of N715m.
The Warri-based herbalist, who was convicted for contravening Section 7 (2) (b) of the Advance-Fee -Fraud and other related offences Act 2006, is to serve the jail term in Kuje Prison in Abuja.
Also known as “Dr. Perebokowe Ogah”, Sonoma was convicted by Mr. Judge Gabriel Kolawole for duping Edem of N715m and concealing the amount in a secret account he opened with false name of Tunwere Mathew Ejoor at Oceanic Bank Plc Warri branch in Delta State.


He was put on trial by the Inspector General of Police on the strength of a petition by Ambassador Edem who was Chairman Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Giving judgment in the 15-count charge against Sonoma, Mr. Judge Kolawole dismissed the claim of the herbalist that the N715 million was a payment for undisclosed services he rendered to his victim.
The judge held that while the complainant paid the amount into the herbalist account in the same Oceanic Bank with his real name of
Mathew Sonoma, the convict upon a petition to police, hurriedly opened a secret account with a false name, Tunwere Ejoor and transferred the money to conceal the source and location of the money.
Judge Kolawole said from the overwhelming bank documents and evidence of the bank manager, the prosecution has proved beyond doubt that the convict had fraudulent intention in transferring the said money to another account under false name during the pendency of police investigation.
The court agreed with the prosecution counsel, Mr. Simon Lough, that the jailed herbalist got the money from his victim with fraudulent intention since he failed to disclose the services he rendered to the diplomat that warranted the payment of the huge sum.
Edem had petitioned the Inspector General of Police claiming that he paid the N715 million to the Oceanic bank account of the convict at Ughelli branch as a loan to the herbalist to enable him execute a business deal.
The petitioner claimed that the herbalist, however, reneged to refund the money to him and instead allegedly threatened his life while the money was kept away from the original bank account.
In his 66-page judgment, Justice Kolawole described the action of the convict as barbaric, adding that the evidence was overwhelming against him that he wanted to conceal the money by opening a secret account and transferring the money during police investigation.
The judge also held that the claim of the convict that the money was payment for services he rendered to Edem cannot hold water because of his failure to disclose the nature of the services when called upon to do so.
The judge also dismissed the claim of the convict that he adopted a new name upon his settlement of a crisis with his father in the village, adding that he failed to lead evidence to the claim.
The judge held that the seven-year jail term with hard labour should be a reasonable penalty for the convict as prescribed under Section 7 (2) (b) of the Advance-Fee-Fraud Act 2006.
Kolawole, however, refused to make order for forfeiture and restitution of the money and other exhibits seized by police from the convict because of the failure of the prosecution to put appropriate evidence before the court.
Source:GuardianNigeria