Ilorin pastor detained by EFCC in connection with N3.9m fraud case

Prophet Adeniyi James, a clergyman based in Ilorin, has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly defrauding a member of his church of a staggering sum of N3.9 million.

The arrest was made by the Ilorin Zonal Command on April 2, 2024, as stated by Dele Oyewale, the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity.

According to the statement, the victim, Oluwole Babarinsa, lodged a complaint with the EFCC, claiming that James had called him out during a church program in 2021 and prophesied that he would be traveling abroad.

In the course of the revelation, James inquired about Babarinsa’s preferred country, to which he responded with “Canada.”

Read Also: Bobrisky Reverts to EFCC Custody

They agreed to discuss further details later to make arrangements for the trip. Subsequently, Babarinsa revealed that James informed him about a friend in Lagos who could assist him in relocating to Canada.

However, this assistance came at a cost of N1.7 million for facilitation and an additional N2.5 million for flight tickets and travel documents.

In order to raise the required amount of N3,980,000, Babarinsa had to sell some of his properties and take out loans.

Unfortunately, despite the substantial sum handed over to James, there were no tangible results or progress made towards the promised relocation.

Frustrated and concerned, Babarinsa confronted the prophet about the lack of outcomes and requested a refund of his money.

However, all attempts to retrieve his funds proved futile, leaving Babarinsa in a state of distress.

The EFCC spokesperson emphasized that the investigations are ongoing, and once concluded, the suspect, Prophet Adeniyi James, will be arraigned in court to face the charges brought against him.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and caution when dealing with individuals who claim to possess supernatural abilities, urging individuals to exercise discernment and report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.