Imam accused of duping businessman of N30m

An Imam identified as Abdullateef Abubakar has been accused by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Adeniji Adele, Lagos of duping an Abuja-based businessman of N30million.

Imam Abubakar was accused of conniving with two other people to dupe Olalekan Adeshina under the guise of special prayers.

Punch reports that Adeshina had been consulting the Imam, who lives in Binuyo Street, Ita-Faaji area of the state for special prayers since 2012.

The victim had reportedly met the suspect sometime in February 2014, and asked to help him in preparing money ritual.

It was gathered that Imam Abubakar rejected the task but introduced him to a local priest who lived in Ibafo, Ogun state.

The local priest had reportedly charged Adeshina about N200,000 for the task.

Reports say the whereabouts of the local priest is yet to be known.

The Punch further reports that a meeting was arranged by Adeshina to meet the priest in Abuja in December, 2014.

Adeshina allegedly gave N30m to the priest and another suspect who deceived him into believing the money would double after seven days upon making the purported sacrifice.

It was gathered that the victim rushed down to the imam in Lagos two days after when it occurred to him that he might have been duped.

The priest was said to have packed out of his apartment in Ibafo when Adesina went to check him.

Adeshina went to the police and reported a case of robbery which led to Abubakar’s arrest on January 9, 2015.

Reports say the FSARS had earlier denied that the Imam was in detention, following an allegation by his wife, Oyeladun, that he was being unlawfully arrested and thrown in jail.

Oyeladun, however, explained that an officer attached to the station had vowed to deal with the suspect until he produced the priest.

She said, “One of his eyes is swollen already, but the officer said it was just the beginning. All we are demanding is to have him on bail so that his condition will not worsen. My husband did not collect a dime from the money.”

Punch says the FSARS’s Public Relations Officer, Lekan Ogundare, said investigation into the case had revealed that the complainant was actually duped, with Abubakar being the mastermind, added the suspect would be released on bail if he could produce two qualified sureties.

He said, “The complainant approached the Imam for spiritual money. He took him to Ibafo, where he introduced him to two other men who are still at large. They ran away after the complainant paid them N30m . We are ready to release the suspect on bail if he can get two sureties who are worth the money. Meanwhile, we are still on the trail of the fleeing suspects.”