House of Reps aspirant seeking spiritual help duped N24m by 3 Herbalists

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three herbalists who allegedly conspired to defraud an aspiring house of representatives member in Ekiti of N24 million.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the anti-graft agency’s spokesman, the herbalists identified as Wilson Uwujaren, Abiodun Ibrahim and Wale Adifala, were arrested by operatives of the Lagos command of the commission on July 7 in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti capital.

The herbalists were arrested with some of their instruments of trade alongside one Ifawole Ajibola (aka Baba Kalifa, who was their accomplice but has reportedly escaped.

The EFCC 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, and 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 efforts came to a dead end.

The agency said the suspects would soon be arraigned in court.