A suspected fake prophet, Olusegun Williams, 58, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly obtaining the sum of N250,000 from a victim with the pretext of curing him of his impotency.
The victim is Elijah Abulimen, a staff of one of the Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs on Lagos Island.
The accused was arrested by the Police at the Onikan Division, Ikoyi, Lagos and charged before an Igbosere Magistrate Court on a one count charge of felony to wit, obtaining money under false pretence.
Police Counsel, Fransisca Job informed the court in charge No I/18/2018 that the accused committed the offence on 16 June, 2017 at Obalende Bus Stop, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Job told the court that the complainant reported to the police that he met the accused at Obalende Bus Stop praying for someone and that he told him to equally pray for him to cure him of his impotency.
Job said that the complainant stated that after the accused prayed for him, he saw a vision for him and promised to cure him of his impotency with prayer and collected series of money from him for the prayer to cure the disease.
She said that the complainant further stated that he later observed that the accused was a suspected fraudster when he could not cure his impotency despite collecting the sum of N250,000 from him to cure the disease.
Job further said that the complainant stated that what pains him most was that he took a loan to pay the N250,000 to the accused to cure him of his impotency thinking that he was a genuine prophet ordained by Almighty God to cure people of their diseases..
She said that the complainant added that he decided to report the matter to the police when all his efforts to recover his money from the accused proved futile.
Job noted that the offence the accused committed was punishable under section 230 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and the presiding Magistrate, B.I Bakare granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till 11 May, 2018 for mention.
Bakare ordered that the defendant be taken to Ikoyi Prison, Lagos pending when he would fulfill the bail conditions.