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Two spiritualists:Adekunle Raimi, 43 and Adedokun Tunde, 24 have appeared before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, Osun State, southwest Nigeria, for allegedly defrauding a politician to the tune of N20 million.
Our correspondent gathered the journey of the two accused began when their victim,Mr Israel Alade, lodged complaints at the police in Osogbo which eventually led them to the court.
Alade,a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, has dragged two spiritualists to court for losing election after paying them N20 million.
He alleged that the two spiritualists defrauded him of the N20 million in the build up to the recently held 2023 general elections in the country.
Alade , further alleged that he was defrauded by the two accused while aspiring to contest for a seat in the Osun State House of Assembly.
The politician, who said he relocated from abroad, had approached the spiritualists to help him shore up his popularity before the March 18 , 2023 State Assembly election which he contested on the platform of APC but lost by a wide margin to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Angered by this inability to win the election, Alade lodged a complaint with the police in Osogbo which in turn commenced a full investigation into the matter.
Convinced that the spiritualists have a case to answer, police on Monday, July 31, 2023 filed a four-count charge against them at a Chief Magistrate Court in Osogbo.
The charges read ; “That you Adekunle Raimi, aged 43 and Adedokun Tunde, aged 24 and others now at large, between the month of October 2022 and March 2023, at Osogbo in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony to wit: Obtaining Money by False Pretence and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 422 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.II Laws of Osun State, 2002
“That you (defendants) did by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtain the sum of Twenty Million Naira (N20, 000,000:00) from one Israel Alade ‘m’ under the pretence of organising spiritual prayers for his political ambition, a pretence you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State, 2002.
“You did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony to wit: Stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State, 2002
“That you Adekunle Raimi and Adedokun Tunde and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Twenty Million Naira (N20, 000,000:00), property of one Israel Alade ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.II Laws of Osun State, 2002.”
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations and their counsel, Suleiman Akano, made oral bail application for them, assuring the court that his clients would not jump bail and would be available to stand their trial.
He also told the court that Raimi and Tunde informed him that they had refunded N3 million to the complainant after they had obtained an affidavit that they only collected N10 million from Alade for the alleged spiritual prayers.
The prosecutor, Inspector Elisha Olusegun, did not object to the bail prayers.
Ruling, Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara said he would be considering a formal bail application because of the amount on the face of the charge.
He, therefore, ordered the accused to be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till September 4 for mention. (The Point/vitalnewsngr.com/The Reporters).
