Fake Spiritualist Docked For Swindling Alaba Market Trader N10m For Spiritual Cleansing

KINGSLEY EBERE 

A self acclaimed spiritualist, Ifeanyi Nwanekwum, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a trader at Alaba  International market, Chimobi Hillary, to the tune of N10m under the false pretence of carrying out spiritual cleansing. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the Alaba Market in July, 2025.

According to the Police, the suspect gave the complainant prophecy of death threats awaiting him, which would only be averted by carrying out spiritual cleansing.

The complainant believed and gave him the money for the cleansing, which never happened. Instead the suspect continued to demand for more money before the complainant regained his senses.

The matter was reported to the Police at Ojo Division. The suspect was then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct against the complainant.

While being interrogated, the suspect claimed that he had already carried out the spiritual cleansing because the complainant has not died yet because of the work he performed.

However, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ojo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

COUNT I: “That you, Ifeanyi Nwanekwum ‘M’ 26years and others still at large sometime in the month of July, 2025 at Alaba International Market, Ojo, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and obtaining money by false pretense and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

COUNT II:” That you, Ifeanyi Nwanekwum ‘M’ 26yrs and others still at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did fraudulently obtain the sum of Ten Million One Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand Naira (N10,178,000.00) from one Chimobi Hillary ‘M’ under the pretense of carrying out spiritual cleansing to avert untimely death, which you know to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 314 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State Nigeria, 2015.

COUNT III: “That you, Ifeanyi Nwanekwum ‘M’ 26years and others still at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did steal the sum of Ten Million One Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand Naira (N10,178,000.00) from one Chimobi Hillary ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

However,  he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector  Esther Adesulu, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.M. Ogun, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.