Every day is for the thief, one day is for the owner aptly captured the burst of a syndicate which specialises in duping hapless and innocent Nigerians of huge amount of money and their valuables under a guise of a spiritual healing home in a shrine.
The syndicate has its shrine in three buildings located in a thick forest at Erunku Village, Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun state.
The syndicate has its shrine in three buildings located in a thick forest at Erunku Village, Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun state.
The curtain drew on the gang on August 30, 2014 at about 3:00p.m when operatives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, led by its Commander, SP Emmanuel Oyewole, swooped on the suspects, following a tip-off.
Upon arrival, dozens of victims were rescued from the shrine and 11 prime suspects, including four ladies were arrested.
The leader of the syndicate, Akoje Abiola, who claimed to be operator of the shrine, “African Heritage Naturalist Care Limited” (aka Isese Ajogunba), dismissed the allegation that his healing home was being used to dupe people.
The Ibadan, Oyo State-born suspect, who claims he inherited the spiritual prowess from his late father, Fatai Akanbi said his healing home was being used to treat all forms of ailments.
Upon arrival, dozens of victims were rescued from the shrine and 11 prime suspects, including four ladies were arrested.
The leader of the syndicate, Akoje Abiola, who claimed to be operator of the shrine, “African Heritage Naturalist Care Limited” (aka Isese Ajogunba), dismissed the allegation that his healing home was being used to dupe people.
The Ibadan, Oyo State-born suspect, who claims he inherited the spiritual prowess from his late father, Fatai Akanbi said his healing home was being used to treat all forms of ailments.
Akoje said he began the traditional practice in 2005 and got registered with an appropriate government agency in 2007.
While he has his shrine at Erunku Village, Itori, Akoje, a divorcee with two children, claimed he has his home at Adigbe area of Abeokuta town.
While he has his shrine at Erunku Village, Itori, Akoje, a divorcee with two children, claimed he has his home at Adigbe area of Abeokuta town.
Also, Wasiu Kolawole, who claims to be an Arabic teacher, said he was introduced to Akoje through one Prophet Bolaji.
The 43-year-old Kolawole, who also owns a spiritual home at Ilase, Agbara, Ado-Odo/Otta Local Government Area of Ogun State, recalled how one Taiwo Omotayo approached him for a spiritual solution on behalf of his twin brother, Kehinde, who works in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“Taiwo told me that his twin brother, Kehinde had a problem in his workplace, claiming that some people wanted to kill him. He also added that in many other spiritual homes they had visited in the past they had advised Kehinde to procure an Ifa (oracle) in order to appease his late mother. “I pray for those that come to my home, but when I could not handle Kehinde’s situation, I now approached Prophet Bolaji who stays at Igbanla Area of Badagry, Lagos state. He also, could not handle the situation and he had to introduce Taiwo to one Akeem, an Islamic spiritualist. It was the same Wasiu who introduced Taiwo to Akoje Abiola at Ekunru Village, in Itori. That was how we met Akoje. “The first day we met Akoje, he demanded for N400, 000 before he could consult the Ifa for Taiwo and Kehinde.
The 43-year-old Kolawole, who also owns a spiritual home at Ilase, Agbara, Ado-Odo/Otta Local Government Area of Ogun State, recalled how one Taiwo Omotayo approached him for a spiritual solution on behalf of his twin brother, Kehinde, who works in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“Taiwo told me that his twin brother, Kehinde had a problem in his workplace, claiming that some people wanted to kill him. He also added that in many other spiritual homes they had visited in the past they had advised Kehinde to procure an Ifa (oracle) in order to appease his late mother. “I pray for those that come to my home, but when I could not handle Kehinde’s situation, I now approached Prophet Bolaji who stays at Igbanla Area of Badagry, Lagos state. He also, could not handle the situation and he had to introduce Taiwo to one Akeem, an Islamic spiritualist. It was the same Wasiu who introduced Taiwo to Akoje Abiola at Ekunru Village, in Itori. That was how we met Akoje. “The first day we met Akoje, he demanded for N400, 000 before he could consult the Ifa for Taiwo and Kehinde.
Kehinde did not go with us, but his twin brother, Taiwo went with us. Both parties agreed and on the spot. Taiwo gave N100, 000 to Akoje to quickly start work. In my presence, Akoje sent someone N50, 000 to go and buy a ram. Also, Akoje asked the person to buy two cartons of Schnapps, two hens, two bottle of palm oil and some other spiritual items to consult the Ifa.
We went to Akoje’s place three times and it was during the second time, but I could not go, that the remaining balance of N300,000 was given to the man.
Penultimate Saturday, when the twins were asked to come for the medicine, as we were sitting outside while Akoje and some Ifa priests and priestesses were appeasing the oracle, detectives pounced on us. That was how we were rounded up”, said the Ojoku, Kwara state-born suspect.
We went to Akoje’s place three times and it was during the second time, but I could not go, that the remaining balance of N300,000 was given to the man.
Penultimate Saturday, when the twins were asked to come for the medicine, as we were sitting outside while Akoje and some Ifa priests and priestesses were appeasing the oracle, detectives pounced on us. That was how we were rounded up”, said the Ojoku, Kwara state-born suspect.
But a police source hinted that at the point the detectives swooped on the suspects, one of the victims was put in an isolated room where he was being asked to listen to the voice of his late mother. A rubber pipe was said to have been laid, passing to the room and a lady was at the other side of one of the rooms in the shrine and was talking to the hypnotized victim.
Speaking on the shrine, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, said that the suspects, with Akoje Abiola, as the leader, had been operating in the village since 2005, with many victims being hypnotized and and made to part with large sums of money. Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), gave the identities of the 11 suspects, as Akoje Abiola, 46 years old; Kolawole Wasiu, 43 years old; Akeem Olatunji, 37 years old; Adeyemi Samuel, 38 years old; Adewole James, 32 years old; Saheed Lateef 40 years old and Oriyomi Hassan, 29 years old. The others are females - Silifat Anwo, 50 years old; Abimbola Yusuf, 47 years old; Adebisi Shobande, 35 years old and Titilayo Abegunde, 52 years old.
Speaking on the shrine, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, said that the suspects, with Akoje Abiola, as the leader, had been operating in the village since 2005, with many victims being hypnotized and and made to part with large sums of money. Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), gave the identities of the 11 suspects, as Akoje Abiola, 46 years old; Kolawole Wasiu, 43 years old; Akeem Olatunji, 37 years old; Adeyemi Samuel, 38 years old; Adewole James, 32 years old; Saheed Lateef 40 years old and Oriyomi Hassan, 29 years old. The others are females - Silifat Anwo, 50 years old; Abimbola Yusuf, 47 years old; Adebisi Shobande, 35 years old and Titilayo Abegunde, 52 years old.
According to the police spokesman, each of the suspects was assigned a specific role to play in the business; majorly sourcing for would-be victims to dupe. The suspects, Adejobi averred, had duped many innocent Nigerians who had patronized them under the pretence of providing charms and concoctions for protection and prosperity for them.
“The detectives swooped on the suspects at their shrine on Saturday, at about 3:00p.m and arrested 11 of the suspects, while trying to dupe some victims (names withheld) who had already been hypnotized.
“The victims who shared their ordeals in the hands of the suspects with the police urged the detectives to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter as many people have fallen prey of these fraudsters. “Many fetish objects and figurines were erected and displayed at the shrine for their dirty deals, while some fake currency notes (both foreign and naira) and money-making materials were recovered at the scene of crime”, said Adejobi.
“The detectives swooped on the suspects at their shrine on Saturday, at about 3:00p.m and arrested 11 of the suspects, while trying to dupe some victims (names withheld) who had already been hypnotized.
“The victims who shared their ordeals in the hands of the suspects with the police urged the detectives to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter as many people have fallen prey of these fraudsters. “Many fetish objects and figurines were erected and displayed at the shrine for their dirty deals, while some fake currency notes (both foreign and naira) and money-making materials were recovered at the scene of crime”, said Adejobi.
However, the DSP disclosed that the Ogun State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, in company with the officers from the command, including the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan, Commander, SARS, SP Emmanuel Oyewole and himself, PRO,visited the scene on Monday, September 1, 2014, for an on-the-spot assessment.
The CP, he noted, had directed a thorough investigation into the matter and had equally directed the ACP in-charge of the SCID to personally take over the matter and forward the outcome of the report to him, without delay.
Adejobi added that the suspects would be charged to court to face the full wrath of the law as soon as investigation was concluded into the matter.
The CP, he noted, had directed a thorough investigation into the matter and had equally directed the ACP in-charge of the SCID to personally take over the matter and forward the outcome of the report to him, without delay.
Adejobi added that the suspects would be charged to court to face the full wrath of the law as soon as investigation was concluded into the matter.
Source: THISDAY LIVE
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