Local Scam: Alfa in the dock for scamming miracle seeking woman of 520k

An Islamic cleric is in the dock for defrauding woman seeking miracles.

A 35-year-old Alfa (Islamic cleric), Abubakar Olawale, has landed himself in hot soup after he defrauded a woman, Bilikisu Akintoye, of the sum of N520,000, on the pretext of conducting 'special prayers' for her so that her family and business fortunes would change.

Alfa Olawale who was arraigned at the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 14, on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing, allegedly duped the woman into parting with the money after telling her he needed the money to buy items for the prayers he was going to conduct for her and after collecting the money in November, 2014, he simply disapperead.

The police prosecutor in the case, Sgt. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that Alfa Olawale committed the ofences on November 22, 104.

“The accused committed the offences on 22 November, 2014, at Ladipo in Oshodi, Lagos. The accused obtained N520, 000 from one Mrs Bilikisu Akintoye, on the pretext of buying items for ‘special prayer'.

The accused approached the complainant on her way from work and told her that he had a prophecy concerning her.

He told her God told him to tell her to make a sacrifice so that all the evil things about to befall her family and business will be averted.

The accused demanded N520, 000 to buy rams, birds and other items so that he can assist her to do the sacrifice. However, after collecting the money, the accused did not call the complainant again," Olatunde said.

The prosecutor noted that the offences committed by the Alfa contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, with Section 312 prescribing a 15 year jail term as penalty for fraud.

Olawale however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him and the Magistrate, Mr. A.O. Aka-Bashorun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 and one surety in like sum while adjourning the case till October 14, for mention.