11th April, 2013
The police at the Ikoyi Division, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, have arrested and arraigned a suspected fake prophet, Eze Okorie, 50, before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court for allegedly tricking a housemaid, Hope Udoh, to steal her employer’s jewellery valued at N30 million for him.
He claimed he would use it for sacrifice for her to get married to a rich man.
He allegedly collected the jewellery, sold it and converted the proceeds to his personal use.
He was charged on a three-count charge of felony to wit, stealing.
The police alleged that the accused, a resident of Alapere Street, Ketu, Lagos was arrested following a complaint by Hope Udoh that Okone met her at Ilasamaja Bus Stop, Isolo, Lagos hypnotised and tricked her to steal her employer’s jewellery valued at N30 million for him to use as sacrifice for her to marry a rich man.
She claimed to have believed him because she was hypnotised after the accused spoke with her.
Narrating her ordeal in her statement to the police, Hope said, “My trouble started early last year when I went to Ilasa area of Isolo Lagos to arrange for evening lecture to sit for WASC exams and while waiting at Ilasa bus stop to board a bus to Obalende, the accused walked up to me and identified himself as a prophet and told me that God sent him to tell me my problems which made success impossible for me.
“He stated that my family curse was behind my problems and that once the sacrifice was done, my way would be open, and I would marry a rich man.
“The moment I uttered a word to answer him, I lost conciousness and started listening to his directives. The accused collected N10,000 from my N20,000 salary for six months for the sacrifice without any result.
“On 5 December 2012, he drove to my residence at 29, Oguntunkere Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, to convince me to steal my employer’s jewellery for him to sell to complete the sacrifice. I obliged because I was not with my senses then, and I stole all my madam’s jewellery valued at N30 million and gave it to him and he disappeared and switched off his phone.
“My madam later discovered the theft and handed me over to the police who arraigned me in the court.
“I was at the court on 5 February this year to see my lawyer when I saw him and raised an alarm. And court officials apprehended him and handed him over to the police.”
After Okorie was interrogated, he was charged to court.
One of the count charge reads: “that you, Eze Okorie, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magistraterial district, did receive gold jewellery from Hope Udoh valued at N30 million, property of Ronke Edubie.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the magistrate, Mr. E.N. Johnson, admitted him on bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum who must have proof of tax payment to the Lagos State government and one of the sureties must be a blood relation.
He adjourned the matter till 19 April, 2013 for mention.
The accused was moved to Ikoyi Prison pending when he would fulfil the bail conditions.
—Paul Iyoghojie