N715m scandal: Groups call for former NDDC Chairman’s arrest, prosecution

By Jackson Udom - 05.07.2009

THE Arewa Youth Consultative Forum has urged President Umaru Yar’Adua to order the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspended Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ambassador Sam Edem, in view of the recent revelation by Edem that a herbalist made him to part with N715 million on false pretence.

According to the president of the group, Alhaji Yerimi Shettima, in a telephone interview with Sunday Tribune, “President Yar’Adua should, in the spirit of the rule of law, justice and fairness order the arrest and prosecution of the former envoy to ascertain the source of such a huge amount, which he accepted to have paid to a herbalist for one form of service or the other.”

The group advised Sam Edem and Senator John Akpanudoedehe to seek divine forgiveness in the hands of the Lord for accusing governor Godswill Akpabio of being behind their problems.”

In another development, the Esop Nkaparana Forum has described as shameful the revelation that N715 million was obtained from him on false pretence.

According to the group, which spoke through its secretary, Chief Ufot Ekpenyong, “we find it extremely worrisome that Sam Edem who had earlier stated that his travail was political and intended to shut him out of the 2011 governorship can now admit in the court that he paid such an amount to a herbalist. What is the relationship between having to pay so much and the purported political war he accused the governor of waging against him,” the group asked.