Two prophetesses face charges in court for defrauding individuals of N8 million through fake charms.
On Monday, the Lagos State Police Command brought Folake Olasode and Damilola Aboloyinijo, both prophetesses, to a magistrate court in Tinubu.
They stood trial for purportedly creating counterfeit amulets and deceiving Mrs Sarah Umeh into relinquishing N8 million.
ASP Francis Igbinosa, the Police Prosecutor alleged that the two individuals reportedly conspired with other accomplices to commit five offenses last month at No. 7A, Jide Agbalaya Street in Chevy-View, Lekki.
The charges include obtaining money via deceitful means, theft of property followed by a trial by ordeal along with assault and disruptive behavior likely to instigate unrest leading up to breach of peace.
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Folake Olasode, Damilola Aboloyinjo and unidentified individuals are charged with acquiring N8 million from Sarah Umeh in the same location at a specific time through deceitful means.
The falsely represented service promised protection for Umeh and her children via preparation of charms, bathing rituals and incisions.
It is alleged that on the same day, time and location in the aforementioned Magisterial District, Folake Olasode, Damilola Aboloyinjo and several others who are yet to be identified unlawfully assaulted Sarah Umeh and her three children by making razor blade incisions on their bodies.
They purportedly did so under the guise of protecting them from death.
You, Folake Olasode and Damilola Aboloyinjo along with other unidentified individuals on the same day and location in the previously mentioned jurisdiction acted in a way that may result in destabilizing harmony by setting ablaze talismans enclosed within a gourd present at Sarah Umeh’s premises.
According to authorities, the two accused individuals have committed acts that are prosecutable under sections 168d, 172, 287 and 314 of Nigeria’s Criminal Law in Lagos State from the year of Two Thousand Fifteen.
Despite the charges being read to them in open court, the defendants entered a plea of not guilty.
Upon the request for bail made by their attorney, Mr Moses Enema, Magistrate A.O Gbajumo ruled to grant them conditional release. Each of the accused individuals was required to post a bond worth N750k and provide two guarantors who possessed legitimate sources of income and identification documents as well.
The trial was postponed until October 14, 2024.
