4 Muslim Clerics Charged With N43.55m Fraud

Four men, who claimed to be Muslim clerics, were on Monday charged with a N43.55 million fraud at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos. 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, Raymond Odion, told the court that the accused, whose addresses were unknown, committed the offences sometime in January 2012 on Victoria Island, Lagos. He 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,” he said. Mr. 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 could be sentenced to 15 years imprisonment if convicted.