Four self-styled Muslim clerics face N43.55m fraud charge

Four men, who claimed to be Muslim clerics, were on Monday charged
with a N43.55 million fraud at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos
State.
The accused – Jimoh Kadiri, 61; Mohammed Ibrahim, 36; Mohammed Isa,
29; and Ogunlade Ojo, 50 – are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and theft.
The Prosecutor, DSP Raymond Odion, told the court that the accused,
whose addresses were unknown, committed the offences sometime in
January 2012 on Victoria Island, Lagos.
Odion said the accused allegedly conspired with others still at large
to defraud one Bashirat Akinbisehin of N43.55 million.
“The accused, who claimed to be Alfas (Muslim clerics), obtained the
money from Akinbisehin under the pretext of helping to cure her
daughter’s undisclosed ailment,” Odion told the court.
Odion said the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the
Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty of the offences.
In his ruling, the Magistrate, J.A. Adegun, granted them bail in the
sum of N500,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case to August 21 for mention.
The accused may be sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each on conviction.