The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arraigned two self-proclaimed Islamic clerics, Saheed Aremu and Tolani Osuolale, for “defrauding” a medical doctor of N280 million.
They allegedly perpetrated the act under the guise of performing spiritual rituals on the money.
The defendants were arraigned at the federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a five-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretences, impersonation, conspiracy, and stealing.
The police said the defendants deceived the victim, Patrick Eloka Akaraiwe, into believing that his money required spiritual fortification before he could invest in a property acquisition.
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The incident occurred between November 2020 and September 2023 in Ibadan, Oyo state, and the Oworonshoki area of Lagos.
The defendants, posing as Islamic spiritual leaders (Alfas), allegedly collected $200,000 (approximately ₦280 million) from the doctor in three instalments.
Daniel Osiagor, the presiding judge, ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
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The judge adjourned the matter to July 18 for the hearing of the bail application.
