By Akonasu Gbedozin A self-styled spiritualist, Odeyemi Hammed Oluwaseun, has been convicted and sentenced to a one-year suspended jail ter...
By Akonasu Gbedozin
The convict, who operated under the guise of a "brave spiritualist" (Àgbà Awo), targeted vulnerable individuals seeking spiritual solutions to relationship problems. Using email and social media platforms such as Instagram, Oluwaseun impersonated a female spiritualist named "Lord Hill" and "_Visions_by_Tendo_12," convincing victims to send money in the form of gift cards to facilitate supposed diabolical rituals.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted Oluwaseun on a two-count charge of internet fraud, obtaining by false pretenses, and impersonation.
One of the charges revealed that in December 2023, the convict deceived a victim, Bose, into sending $3,200 worth of gift cards, claiming the funds would be used to influence her estranged husband to return and marry her. Similarly, between August and September 2023, Oluwaseun defrauded another victim, Schneider Alina, of $4,500, promising to use spiritual means to reconcile her with her ex-boyfriend.
Oluwaseun pleaded guilty to the charges when presented in court. EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola, reviewed the facts of the case and presented evidence, including the convict’s extra-judicial statements, $1,000 in cash, an iPhone 15, and a 2008 Toyota Camry recovered from him.
After considering the evidence, Justice Abdulgafar sentenced Oluwaseun to six months suspended jail term on each count. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the recovered cash, phone, and car to the federal government.
This case highlights the growing trend of internet fraud perpetrated by individuals posing as spiritualists, often targeting victims through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The EFCC continues to warn the public to remain vigilant against such scams.
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