Court jails fake spiritualist in Ilorin for internet fraud
Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court has sentenced a self-proclaimed spiritualist, Odeyemi Hammed Oluwaseun, to one year imprisonment for internet fraud.
The conviction, handed down on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, followed Oluwaseun’s prosecution by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge bordering on fraud, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretences.
According to court documents, Oluwaseun posed as “Lord Hill,” a fictitious female spiritualist, to defraud his victims. In December 2023, he convinced one Bose to send him $3,200 (Three Thousand, Two Hundred Dollars) worth of gift cards, claiming he could use diabolical powers to reunite her with her ex-husband.
Similarly, between August and September 2023, Oluwaseun duped another victim, Schneider Alina, of $4,500 (Four Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars) worth of gift cards. He impersonated a spiritualist on Instagram with the handle @_Visions_by_Tendo_12 and promised to help her reconcile with her estranged boyfriend.
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Oluwaseun pleaded guilty to both charges. Prosecuting counsel Sesan Ola presented evidence, including $1,000 in cash, an iPhone 15, and a 2008 Toyota Camry recovered from the convict. The court also reviewed his extra-judicial statements, which corroborated the prosecution’s case.
Justice Abdulgafar, ruling on the matter, sentenced Oluwaseun to six months imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently. However, the jail terms were suspended. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of the recovered items to the federal government.
The 23-year-old, a native of Oyo State, preyed on vulnerable women desperate to restore broken relationships. Using deceit and false promises, he orchestrated schemes to exploit their emotional struggles for financial gain.
The EFCC has reiterated its commitment to bringing fraudsters to justice, cautioning the public to remain vigilant against such scams.
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