A 43-year-old clergyman in Lagos has been apprehended by the police for allegedly using hypnotism to swindle his friend, who is based in the United States, out of N105 million. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone-2, Mr. Ali Mohammed, stated that the cleric not only tricked his friend into giving him money but also manipulated his friend’s wife and three children, effectively taking them under his control. The cleric’s wife was reportedly complicit in the scheme.
According to Mohammed, aside from obtaining money from his friend, the cleric and his wife also gained possession of five vehicles and a piece of land that belonged to the US-based friend. The police officer revealed that the suspect confessed to using spiritual methods to seize control of his friend’s family, more than N105 million in funds, and multiple properties in Lagos. The cleric admitted to having cast a spell on his friend, causing him to change his children’s names and transfer property ownership documents to him.
The police received a complaint about the situation on July 17, 2023, leading to the arrest of the cleric and his wife. While some accomplices are still at large, five individuals have been apprehended in connection with the crime.
Mohammed explained, “The suspect held the complainant’s wife and children in captivity for over a decade, during which he altered their identities with the help of his wife. He unlawfully converted all of the complainant’s assets, alleging divine guidance. The complainant eventually realized the truth after a decade and returned to Nigeria to report the matter.”
The cleric’s wife admitted to tampering with the birth records of the complainant’s children to reflect the cleric’s name. She also confessed to receiving over 17,000 dollars (approximately N11.8 million) from the complainant. Investigations revealed that the suspect and the complainant met at a religious gathering in Lagos about 16 years ago, forming a close friendship. The complainant, who resides in the USA, began sending funds to the suspect for a project. However, instead of fulfilling the project, the suspect misappropriated the complainant’s savings, amounting to more than N105 million.
NAN
