Two suspected conmen parading themselves as spiritualists and prayer warriors to dupe unsuspecting members of the public have been arrested by the police at the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, southwest Nigeria.
They allegedly obtained the sum of N6 million from Mobolaji Adebayo Ojomo on the pretext of offering special prayer for him to solve his spiritual problems and cleanse his mouth odour to enable him get his Canada visa to travel abroad, a claim they knew to be false.
The suspects, Sunday Omogbehin, 46, and Olawale Adeniyi, 42, were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of felony, obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
The police prosecutor C.N. Odii stated that the accused were arrested following a written complaint by Ojomo that the accused in March, 2012 at 15, Oyenuga Street, Aguda, Lagos, deceived and collected the sum of N6 million from him in Lagos state and Mowe town in Ogun State, southwest Nigeria, on the pretext of offering him special prayers and cleansing his mouth odour to enable him obtain a visa from Canada Embassy to travel abroad without stress.
He claimed that the accused told him that the special prayer and treating his mouth odour would mesmerize the embassy officers not to bother to ask him sensitive questions before issuing him his visa.
He stated that he believed them and started paying them money until they got about N6 million from him, yet nothing happen, and the accused started to evade him before he reported the matter to the police.
The offences the accused commited contravene sections 409 and 312 (21) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. O. Osi, admitted them on bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties each in like sum who must show proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She adjourned the matter while the defendants were moved to Ikoyi Prisons pending when they could meet their bail conditions.