Matilda Omonaiye/
A spiritualist who failed to deliver on his promise after collecting money to make a man rich through special prayers has been docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Umaru Isma’ila was today arraigned, by the Sokoto Zonal Office of EFCC, before Justice Bello Duwale of the Sokoto State High Court, on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining not less than N668, 000 by false pretense.
According to the EFCC, the complainant, Sani Musa, alleged that sometime in 2017, he met Isma’ila through his friend, Mujitafa, who invited him to Sokoto to meet the spiritualist whom he claimed could produce money through voodoo.
Musa disclosed that he travelled to meet Isma’ila, who told him that he would pray for him to be rich but that he had to buy some perfumes for the prayers. Thereafter, Isma’ila allegedly collected several amounts of money from him on different dates.
The complainant disclosed that he later found out that the whole thing was a fraud and that all efforts for him to recover his money proved abortive.
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. He argued that his offences were bailable.
Justice Duwale granted the defendant bail in the sum of N20, 000 and one surety in 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.
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