A 45-year-old self acclaimed cleric/spiritualist, Ayodele Igotun, was on Thursday arraigned in an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan for allegedly defrauding a canteen owner of N109,600.
The Police charged Igotun, of undisclosed address, with two-count charges bordering on fraud and stealing.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, S.H. Adebisi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
Adebisi said the surety must be the defendant’s family member, and adjourned the matter until August 10 for further hearing.
The Prosecution Counsel, Inspector Opeyemi Olagunju, told the court that the defendant, between April and June, at Oke-Ado area, Ibadan, allegedly defrauded one Rukayat Azeez of the sum of N109,600.
Olagunju said: “Igotun allegedly collected the money from Azeez, a food canteen owner, on the pretence of doing spiritual charms for her, knowing same to be false.
“The defendant was alleged to have approached the complainant in her shop, claimed to be a seer, and obtained the money from her.”
The prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.