Two ‘Islamic Clerics’ Arraigned for Defrauding Doctor of ₦280 Million Under Guise of Spiritually Fortifying Funds

Two self-proclaimed Islamic clerics, Saheed Aremu and Tolani Osuolale, have been arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly defrauding a medical doctor, Patrick Eloka Akaraiwe, of ₦280 million under the pretense of conducting spiritual fortification rituals on the money. The arraignment took place at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, where both men faced a five-count charge including conspiracy, advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretences, impersonation, and stealing.

According to the police, the incident occurred between November 2020 and September 2023, spanning Ibadan in Oyo State and the Oworonshoki area of Lagos. Aremu and Osuolale, acting as Islamic spiritual leaders (Alfas), allegedly convinced the doctor that his funds needed spiritual cleansing before they could be safely used for a property investment. Over the course of several transactions, the defendants reportedly collected \$200,000—equivalent to about ₦280 million—from the victim in three instalments.

Presiding Judge Daniel Osiagor ordered that the accused be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service. The case has been adjourned to July 18, 2025, for the hearing of their bail application.