The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has convicted and sentenced a fake spiritualist, Solomon Odigie Moses, to one year in prison.
In a statement on Thursday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said Mr Moses was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on cheating and posing as a spiritualist, defrauding and obtaining $1,100 from an Indian lady seeking spiritual healing.
According to the EFCC, Mr Moses was arrested in Ekpoma, Edo, after receiving and laundering the $1,100 via his Zelle payment platform. He then paid the naira equivalent into his local bank account.
“The convict subsequently deceived her into taking a naked spiritual bath, which he recorded live without her permission, and thereafter blackmailed her to send him money, else he would make the video public,” the anti-graft agency stated.
The EFCC said the investigation revealed that the victim had to pay the sum of $1,100 to the suspect to prevail on him not to release her nudity to the public.
Mr Moses pleaded guilty, following which the prosecution counsel, Maryam Hayatudeen, urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
In his ruling, Justice C.N. Nwabulu convicted and sentenced Mr Moses to one year’s imprisonment, with an option of a fine of N300,000.
Mr Nwabulu further directed that the $1,100 proceeds of crime be forfeited to the victim through the anti-graft agency.
