Money Producing Spiritualist Arrested

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sokoto Zonal Office, on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 summoned one Umaru Isma'ila before Justice Bello Duwale of the Sokoto State High court, sitting in Sokoto, on a two-count charge, verging on acquiring cash by false pretence to the tune of N668, 000 (Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand Naira)The complainant, Sani Musa affirmed that at some point in 2017, he met the defendant through his companion, Mujitafa, who welcomed him to Sokoto to meet the defendant, whom he guaranteed could produce cash through voodoo.

Musa revealed that he made a trip to meet Isma'ila, who revealed to him that he will appeal to God for him to be rich yet that he needed to get a few fragrances for the prayers. For that, the defendant collected a various measures of cash from him on various dates.

The complainant revealed that he later discovered that the entire thing was a fake and that all endeavors for him to recuperate his cash came fruitless.

Count one reads: “That you Umaru Ismaila sometime between the months of March, 2017, June and July, 2018 at Sokoto within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum N668,000.00 (Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand Naira) from one Sani Musa, when you falsely represented yourself to him as capable of making him become rich (wealthy) by praying for him, a pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Habila Jonathan, asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

However, the defense counsel, A. Anas prayed the court to grant the defendant bail, arguing that his offences were bailable.

Justice Duwale granted the defendant bail in the sum of N20, 000 (Twenty Thousand Naira) and one surety in the like sum. The surety must be the Local Government Area Councillor, representing the defendant.

The matter was adjourned to May 6, 2019 for hearing, while the defendant was remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.