It is a famous story in Nigeria, but the "snake" was actually a cover-up for a major theft
In February 2018, Philomena Chieshe, a clerk at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) office in Makurdi, Benue State, claimed that a "mysterious snake" had spiritually entered the office vault and swallowed ₦36 million in cash
Here is the truth behind the story:
1. The "Spiritual" Excuse
When auditors arrived to check the books, Philomena couldn't account for the missing millions.2 She initially told the board that her housemaid and a fellow staff member "spiritually" used a snake to swallow the money.This became a national joke and a viral meme, with people even bringing snake charmers to the JAMB headquarters in mockery.
2. The Real "Snake" Revealed
Under interrogation by the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission), the truth came out. Philomena eventually confessed that there was no actual snake.5 Instead:
- The money was actually collected from her in installments by her superior, Samuel Umoru (the JAMB Coordinator in Benue).
- The funds were part of the proceeds from the sale of JAMB scratch cards which they had diverted for personal use.
3. The Legal Outcome
- Arraignment: Philomena Chieshe and five other officials (including her boss, Samuel Umoru) were officially arraigned in court in 2019 for the ₦35 million fraud.
- The Trial: The trial has been ongoing for years. As of early 2026, the case remains one of the most cited examples of the creative (and often ridiculous) excuses used to hide public corruption in Nigeria.
Other "Animal" Incidents in Nigeria
Since the snake story, other officials have tried similar excuses, leading to a "zoo" of corruption stories:
- Monkeys: In 2018, a senator alleged that monkeys made away with ₦70 million belonging to the Northern Senators Forum on a farmhouse.
- Termites: In 2022, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) claimed that termites had eaten up documents and vouchers worth ₦17.1 billion.
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