POLICE ACCUSE IMAM, OTHERS OF N30M FRAUD

The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Adeniji Adele, Lagos State, has accused an Imam, Abdullateef Abubakar, of conniving with two other suspects at large to dupe an Abuja-based businessman, Olalekan Adeshina, to the tune of N30m.

Our correspondent gathered that the victim had been consulting the imam, who lives on the Binuyo Street, Ita-Faaji area of Lagos for special prayers since 2012.

Abdullateef Abubakar

It was learnt that in February 2014, Adeshina reportedly met with the suspect to help him prepare money ritual, the 34-year-old Abubakar rejected the task, but introduced him to a local priest, who lived in Ibafo, Ogun State.

The priest, whose name had yet to be ascertained, was said to have charged Adeshina about N200,000 for the assignment.

After paying the sum, the priest and Adeshina reportedly agreed to meet in Abuja in December, 2014. He was said to have given N30m to the priest and one other suspect, who hoodwinked him into believing that a purported sacrifice would double the amount after seven days.

Our correspondent further learnt that the victim rushed down to the imam in Lagos two days after when it occurred to him that he might have been duped. The priest was said to have packed out of his apartment in Ibafo when Adesina went to check him.

Adeshina was said to have reported a case of robbery to the police, leading to Abubakar’s arrest on January 9, 2015.

The FSARS had earlier denied that the imam was in its custody, following an allegation by his wife, Oyeladun, that he was being unlawfully detained.

Oyeladun, however, explained that an officer attached to the station had vowed to deal with the suspect until he produced the priest.

She said, “One of his eyes is swollen already, but the officer said it was just the beginning. All we are demanding is to have him on bail so that his condition will not worsen. My husband did not collect a dime from the money.”

The FSARS’s Public Relations Officer, Lekan Ogundare, said investigation into the case had revealed that the complainant was actually duped, with Abubakar being the mastermind. He added the suspect would be released on bail if he could produce two qualified sureties.

He said, “The complainant approached the imam for spiritual money. He took him to Ibafo, where he introduced him to two other men who are still at large. They ran away after the complainant paid them N30m . 

We are ready to release the suspect on bail if he can get two sureties who are worth the money. Meanwhile, we are still on the trail of the fleeing suspects.”

culled from 'Punch'