A 37-year-old cleric, Lateef Oladigbolu, on Friday, appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly defrauding a baker of N28 million.
Oladigbolu , who resides in Onikere, Ifo in Ogun State, was charged with facing conspiracy, breach of peace, obtaining money by false pretences and threat to life to which he pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, John Iberedem, told the court that the defendant and his cohorts, at large allegedly committed the offences on different occasions.
He said they committed the offence on Dec. 15, 2021, Feb. 24, 2022, Sept. 21, 2022, and April 18, 2024 all at Kollington Bus stop, Alagbado, Lagos.
Iberedem said that the defendant and others, collected the money from the complainant who is a baker within a space of some months to make certain special prayers for him to boost his business.
“In December the complainant was introduced to the defendant who is an islamic cleric(Alfa) for a special prayer .
“During the prayer sessions , the complainant was asked to transfer money into GTB , Access bank , UBA , FCMB, Polaris bank accounts and also Opay, Palmpay, Monie point online accounts and other different accounts to the tune of N28 million.
“The defendant took the complainant to his other accomplices, who are herbalists and they collected goats, sheep’s and pigeon from him for sacrifices.
“When the complainant realised that he had been swindled by a syndicate of fraudsters, he told them he had no more money to give them and they started threatening him.
“They threatened to kill him and all members of his family with charms if he revealed their secret to anyone”, the prosecutor said.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 56, 174, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 attracts 15 years for obtaining under false pretenses.
The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2 million, with two responsible sureties in like sum who must be gainfully employed.
She added that they must produce evidence of tax payments, verification and affidavit of means must be provided.
Kubeinje adjourned the matter until Nov. 13 for mention.
(NAN)
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