Victim Narrates How He Lost N5.5m To 419 Syndicate

 

  …As Suspect Is  Docked

By Our Reporter

Pastor/Engr. Joseph B. Effiong who resides  in Uyo, last week at the Federal High Court 2, Uyo recounted the moving story of how he became a victim of an international 419 syndicate. It was a moving recollection that sounded more like a storyline from the script of an epic movie.

 One Uwem Okon Etim, the suspect at the center of the entire episode, listened with rapt attention from the dock as his victim, Pastor Joseph painted a graphic blow by blow picture of how he was defrauded, to the court.

 He narrated that about the middle of this year, he was in his house when a call from a strange number entered his GSM phone. He said he initially ignored the call but decided later to receive it when it became persistent.

 The caller introduced himself as Pastor Emmanuel and explained that he knew him (his victim) in 2009 at the Redeemed Bible College, which incidentally, he was a student then. He told the court that he recalled that there was a student he knew at that time by name, Emmanuel, so he assumed that the caller might be him. The fact that the caller seemed to know him well through the details he gave, persuaded him to continue discussion on phone.

 First, Pastor Emmanuel who later turned out to be the docked suspect, Uwem Okon Etim, broke the ice by telling Pastor Joseph that his brother who is in Saudi Arabia had a problem and wanted help. So he felt that the Pastor being a known person could help.      

 Specifically, he said Uwem told him that the brother wanted to acquire land along Ibom Airport Road in Uruan and wanted his assistance in sourcing and negotiating with owners. When Uwem sought his permission to ask his brother who is purported to be in Saudi Arabia, he obliged without hesitation.

 About ten minutes later, one Umoh Isaiah called with a foreign number, and repeated the same story earlier told by the suspect. At that point, Pastor Joseph said he accepted to help. Pastor/Engr. Joseph B. Effiong, assuming the request to be a genuine appeal for help, met Village Heads of three Communities who donated 100 plots of land at (N500,000) Five Hundred Thousand Naira per plot, which added up to N50m.

 The information was relayed through the accused person to his supposed Saudi based brother who accepted it, and promptly sent somebody (one Imo) to inspect the land. The suspect did not accompany the person sent because, according to him, he was writing exams at the Bible College then.

 And because the N50m cannot go into a personal account due to CBN regulations governing financial transactions, Pastor Joseph approached Akwa Savings and Loan Ltd, and was able to secure a corporate account which number he sent to Dr. Umoh Isaiah.

 Few days later, there was twist to the arrangement as the suspect called to explain that his brother is having problems transferring the money to Nigeria directly from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the circumstance, he informed that his brother was sending some consignment of computer accessories to be sold in Uyo from which the proceeds would be used to pay for the land. The victim told the Court that he agreed since it was his way of paying for the land.

 He continued that the suspect informed him in July this year to be in Lagos because the Cargo containing the accessories was due in Lagos on Monday July 9^th. He left Uyo on Saturday July 7^th 2012, but before he left, the accused person text the name and number of one Amodu Sadiq, whom he claimed is an Assistant Superintendent of Customs who was to assist him clear the goods. Shortly after, Amodu Sadiq called to confirm what Uwem Okon Etim said.

 By Monday, Amodu called him in Lagos to inform that the Cargo has indeed arrived and that the sum of N280,000.00 was required for inspection, which he gave through the suspect who was in his Hotel room. Days later, Pastor Joseph was informed that they needed the sum of N5.5m to clear the Cargo. He recounted to the Court that he got the amount and gave to the trio - Uwem Okon Etim and Imo who came to inspect the land and Amodu Sadiq in his Hotel room in Lagos.

 They later, according to Pastor Joseph, brought “a big box into the Hotel Room”. Surprised that it was not a Cargo as claimed, but a big box, he become suspicious and demanded explanation. He told court that their explanation was that the sizes of the accessories may be small but that their prices were high. Being an Engineer, he said he knew that some important capacitors are costly notwithstanding their sizes.

 Rather than open the box Uwem claimed that he had to hurry back to continue his exams and may not be available when it would be opened. Uwem was reported to have argued that since the accessories were meant to be sold in Uyo, the proper thing was to open it there . He was said to have assured that as soon as he was done with his exams he will be in Uyo that week end.

 After waiting without any trace of the accused in Uyo and after repeated calls, he became apprehensive and opened the “big box” on Monday 16^th.

 Pastor Joseph said when the box was opened what he saw baffled him. In his own words, “I saw notes that looked like Dollars” (US$). “At that point I called Uwem (the accused) on phone to inform him that what I found inside the big box aren’t Computer accessories but what looked like dollars (US$). My Lord he laughed, laughed and L-a-u-g-h-e-d”. The Court at that point went into laughter!

 He continued, “Thereafter, he told me to look inside the box and follow the instructions on a sheet of laminated paper inside the box. I read through the paper bearing instructions on how to use certain chemical to treat the content of the box and concluded that no amount of treatment will turn dollar looking notes to computer accessories, and I informed him accordingly on phone”.

 Additionally, Pastor Joseph told court that he informed the suspect on phone that he will report the matter to the Police, and did report the matter to the Police and the SSS.

 The box in question was not in court because, according to the Prosecutor, Mr. Aja, the IPO was not around, as such could not collect the Exhibit from the Exhibit Keeper. He asked court for adjournment to enable the IPO produce the Exhibit on the next adjourned date.

 Ekpa B. Ekpa Esq. representing the accused objected to the adjournment and informed the Court that he was ready to go on with the cross examination of witness. He informed the Court that a similar charge involving the same parties was also being heard at the Magistrate Court, where, according to him, the Police gave the same excuse for failing to tender the same exhibit.

 Counsel to Uwem Etim Okon continued that he was suspicious of the content of the box having been brought by the witness from Lagos to Uyo alone, and having also opened the box on his own.

The court granted adjournment to January 9, 2013.