The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it arrested two herbalists who allegedly conspired to defraud an aspiring house of representatives member in Ekiti of N24 million.
According to a statement by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, the anti-graft agency said Abiodun Ibrahim and Wale Adifala, the two self-acclaimed spiritualists, alongside Ifawole Ajibola (aka Baba Kalifa, an accomplice currently on the run), were arrested by operatives of the Lagos command of the commission on July 7 in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti capital.
It said the trio allegedly conspired to defraud an aspiring house of representatives member in Ekiti of the sum of N24,071,000 which they claimed was to be used to secure spiritual help for the victim’s political ambition.
According to the EFCC, under interrogation by operatives, Adifala admitted to collecting the sums of money from their victim, including N2.9 million, which he claimed was used to buy black, brown, and white cows, rams, lavender perfume, rings among other items to carry out sacrifices at different times.
“I also linked up on the matter with Ifawole Ajibola, and we continued with the sacrifices together, until we were arrested by EFCC,” he was quoted as saying.
The commission said Ibrahim, who had prior contact with the victim, admitted to collecting money at different times.
“Our own is just to pray and do the necessary sacrifices, which we did, and to leave the rest to God, however, along the line, the zoning for the reps seat was taken away from Oye-Ekiti to Ikole-Ekiti,” he reportedly said.
The EFCC said their arrest followed a petition alleging that after collecting the said sum, the whole effort came to a dead end.
The agency said they were arrested along with some of their instruments of trade, and would soon be arraigned.
