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How Ex NDDC Chairman Spent N1b On ‘Juju’

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Of recent, a drama played out in which the lead actor was the current acting managing director (MD) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Kemebradikumo Pondei

In this drama which looked like a scripted Nollywood movie, Pondei had allegedly fainted at a house of representatives hearing.

However, this is not the first time the Commission seems to be playing out a drama. Events at the commission 12 years ago also looked like a scripted Nollywood movie.

But it was indeed a true story.

Back in 2008, it was alleged that the then NDDC Chairman, Sam Edem, in a bid to secure government contracts, spent N1 billion on black magic popularly known as “juju”

It was alleged that he had taken the money from the government to source for a sorcerer for rituals to aid his success in the contracts.

Naija News understands that the contracts he was pursuing were from the Akwa Ibom state government at the time.

It was further alleged that asides the N1 billion, the former NDDC boss also burnt N270 million in a ritual after which he rubbed the ash on his body.

The ritual which was said to have occured in the middle of the night in a Port Harcourt cemetery, was to “help secure his position (at NDDC) and attract more patronage from the authorities”.

The police said Edem also asked the sorcerer to cast a spell on Timi Alaibe, Edem’s rival at the NDDC.

Eventually it was noted that Ogah also confessed to performing the ritual at the Port Harcourt cemetery.

Although Edem denied the allegations, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, president at the time, suspended him from office and ordered a full scale investigation into the allegations.

He was later arraigned him by the police in court who said they believed that “this is money from the Nigerian government, money that should have been used to develop the Niger Delta.”

Twelve years down the line, allegations bordering on corruption and mismanagement of public funds are still rocking the NDDC.