Two Spiritualists Face Criminal Charges

A federal high court sitting in Lagos has adjourned till next month, the arraignment of two Islamic clerics, Alhaji Abdullfatai Bamidele and Sheik Abdulateef Ahmed, alleged to have swindled a Lagos businessman, Sulaiman Lawal, to the tune of N10.7 million.

The two Islamic spiritualists were to have been arraigned last Tuesday, but the arraignment did not take place due to the absence of the police prosecuting counsel, Mr. Frank Emerho, who was engaged in another matter at the Ibadan division of the Court of Appeal, Lagos State.  In a seven-count criminal charge filed before the court by the police prosecuting counsel, Mr. Frank Emerho, from Police Special Fraud Unit, Milverton Road, Ikoyi, it was alleged that Alhaji Abdulfatai Bamidele and Sheik Abdulateef Ahmed between October, 2011 and June, 2012 conspired with others, now at large, to commit felony to wit, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.

Mr. Emerho further stated in the charge that Alhaji Abdulfatai Bamidele in December, 2011 with intention to defraud, obtained by false pretence the sum of N123,000, falsely presented himself as spiritual consultant who prescribes prayers to avoid terrible dreams caused by the power of darkness.

In the subsequent counts, the two accused persons between October, 2011 and June, 2012 at the Roof Top Hotel, Ebute-Metta, with intention to defraud and falsely presenting themselves as Moslem cleric and spiritual consultants, collected various sums of money from one Sulaiman Lawal for various purposes as such as N150,000 for their victim to gain power over the power of darkness, $100,000 for spiritual prayer and rituals for 16 days, N1.7 million to purchase and kill three white horses, three red horses, and three black horses for more spiritual power to please the witches to get immediate answer, $50,000 for spiritual prayers for wealth within nine days, N585,000 for spiritual prayers to make his business grow.

All the offences of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence alleged to have been committed by the two accused spiritualists are contrary to and punishable under sections 1 (1) (a ) and (3) of the advance fee fraud and other fraud related offences act cap A6 volume 1 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2008

—Akin Kuponiyi