An Alaba International Market trader, Chimobi Hillary, is now counting his losses after he paid a self acclaimed Spiritualist, Ifeanyi Nwanekwum, the sum of N10m to perform spiritual works in order to to avert his death but it turned out to be a scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the purported spiritualist, Ifeanyi Nwanekwum, has been arrested and charged over his alleged conduct.
The incident happened at the Alaba International market after the victim was deceived with false prophecy and he fell into the trap.
According to the Police, the suspect contacted the complainant, gave him prophecy that he is going to die and the only thing that can stop his death was to perform some spiritual works to avert it.
The complainant was afraid, asked him what to do and the fake spiritualist asked him to pay the said amount of money for him to perform the spiritual works and he paid.
However, the complainant later discovered that he was scammed with the prophecy as the suspect absconded with the money and did not perform any spiritual work.
The complainant then reported the matter to the Police at Onireke Division. The Police operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspect and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
While being interrogated, the suspect claimed that the complainant has not died because of his spiritual works. Therefore, it meant that the spiritual work he performed on the complainant worked.
The Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ojo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Law of the State.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Ifeanyi Nwanekwum ‘M’ 26 years 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 a 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’ 26 years 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, Supol Simeon Uche, then 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, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, 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.