Operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos have arraigned a fake pastor, Chibuzor Obi, before a Federal High Court in Lagos on charges of alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences, and N125 million fraud.
The ‘Pastor’ was arraigned before Justice Akintayo Aluko-led court on the five-count charge on Monday.
The prosecutor, Barrister Tijani Williams, told the court that the defendant and others now at large committed the alleged offences between August and November 2024.
He told the court that the defendant fraudulently obtained the money from the victim in two tranches of N6 million and N119 million.
Barrister Williams further told the court that the defendant and others at large defrauded their victim, one Michael Ogu, of the money under the pretence of having the spiritual power of casting and removing an evil ring planted in him.
He also told the court that the defendant and others at large told the fraud victim that he has spiritual power to clean ‘evil spirits’ on all United States dollars (USD) in his possession.
He told the court that the defendant’s illegal actions are contrary to and punishable under Sections 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.He also told the court that the act contravened section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Act CAP Law of the Federation 2004.
The defendant, Chibuzor Obi, denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the five counts charged.
Based on his plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date as well and urged the court to remand him in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the determination of the charge.
But the defendant’s lawyer, Barrister Augustine Nwagu, while not opposing the prosecutor’s request for a trial date, told the court that he had filed his client’s bail application and it had been served on the prosecutor.
Upon taking arguments on the bail application and the counter filed by the prosecutor, Justice Aluko, after citing a series of legal authorities, admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.
The surety, according to the judge, could be a landed property owner within the court’s jurisdiction or a businessman who has a standing credit above the bail sum in his account.
The judge, while adjourning the matter to May 8 for trial, ordered that the defendant be remanded in NCoS custody, pending when he is able to meet the bail terms.
Charges against the defendant read: “That your Chibuzor Obi ‘m’ and others now at large between August 2024 and November 2024 at Lagos within the Judicial Division of this Honourable court did conspire among yourself to commit felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.
“That you, Chibuzor Obi, and others now at large between August 2024 and November 2024 in Lagos within the Judicial Division of the Honourable Court did fraudulently obtain the sum of N6 million from one Michael Ogu ‘m’ under the pretext that you have the power to cast and remove evil rings, a representation that you know to be false, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
“That you, Chibuzor Obi, and others now at large between August 2024 and November 2024 in Lagos within the Judicial Division of the Honourable Court did steal the sum of 6 million Naira property of Michael Ogu’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Act (A) C38 law of the federation 2004.
“That you, Chibuzor Obi, and others now at large between August 2024 and November 2024 at Lagos within the Judicial Division N119, 000.000.00 (one hundred and nineteen million naira only) from one Michael Ogu under the pretext that you have the spiritual power of cleansing evil spirits on dollars, a representation you know to be false, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
That you, Chibuzor Obi “m, and others now at large between August 2024 and November 2024 in Lagos within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court did steal the sum of N119,000,000.00 (one hundred and nineteen million naira) property of one Michael Ogu ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Act CAP Law of the Federation 2004.”
