Aleke Aleke in Abuja
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have apprehended a middle-aged spiritualist and mystic who allegedly claimed to have the power to double money.
The money doubler was nabbed in Abuja for allegedly defrauding a Lagos-based businessman of N70 million.
The mystic, who operates in Mubi, reportedly used a man who presented himself as a serving police officer to convince the businessman that he had spiritual powers to double money and bring about financial breakthrough by offering certain prayers and rituals, including the use of a special perfume said to attract wealth.
It was gathered that the businessman, who claims to have established extensive networks, including acquaintances within the Nigeria Police Force, fell for the trick and released the N70 million in tranches through his bank to the Alhaji, waiting for the money to be doubled until the trick was exposed.
According to the businessman, the policeman persistently persuaded him to consider a money-doubling scheme being operated by one Alhaji, a self-proclaimed mystic and spiritualist based in Mubi.
He assured him that the Alhaji’s powers could bring about financial breakthrough by offering certain prayers and rituals, including the use of a special perfume said to attract wealth.
The businessman further said the Alhaji had been doing it for many people and could easily change foreign currencies after performing certain rituals.
“I became skeptical after he started asking for goats, cows, and other live animals to be slaughtered for the ritual. At that stage, I started making frantic inquiries, which revealed that he also usually uses higher animals for rituals.
That was why I hastily demanded that the N70 million I had already paid to him through my bank be refunded,” the victim narrated.
It was learned that his failure to refund the money led the businessman to petition the police headquarters in Abuja, and the Alhaji was swiftly arrested and detained after he confessed that he received the money from the businessman.
Reports said that after his detention, with a court order, he started making frantic efforts to be released by using some people who claim to be clerics to secure bail for him based on fake claims that he is diabetic and needs urgent medical attention.
Police sources said the businessman has already objected vehemently to his false claims, insisting that he must refund his money, especially since he lied that it was only N20 million that he collected and not N70 million.
The businessman also alleged that the suspect has been duping many Nigerians, pretending to be a mystic and spiritualist, and pleaded with the police to ensure that he faces the full weight of the law so that he will not continue with his criminal acts.
