Two self-proclaimed Islamic clerics have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly duping a medical doctor of the sum of N280m under the guise of performing spiritual prayers on the money.
The defendants, Saheed Atanda Aremu, 44, and Tolani Osuolale, 48, allegedly convinced Dr. Patrick Eloka Akaraiwe to hand over $200,000 in three tranches.
They claimed that the money had to be spiritually “fortified” before it could be safely used to buy property or else the doctor would face an untimely death.
The men, who claimed to be Alfas, were arraigned on Thursday on five counts bordering on conspiracy, fraud, obtaining by false pretence and stealing preferred against them by the police.
The police prosecutor, Joseph Eboseremen, told the court that the incident took place between November 19, 2020, and October 2023 in Ibadan, Oyo State and Oworonshoki, Lagos State, respectively.
He said the suspects also posed as having spiritual powers to multiply the funds and falsely promised the doctor he could avoid calamity by complying with their instructions.
According to the charge, the offences committed contravened Sections 8 (a),1 (2), 1 (3), 2 (b) 3(c), 516, 383 and 390, of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud-related offences ACT, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004, 2006.
The suspects however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the not-guilty plea of the defendants, Eboseremen asked the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendants in the correctional centre.
The defence lawyer informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served, on the prosecution, but the prosecution said it needed more time to respond.
However, Justice Daniel Osiagor ordered the remand of the defendants in prison custody.
He adjourned the matter to July 18, 2025, pending the hearing of their bail application.
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