Court jails fake spiritualist for sextortion in Abuja

Justice C.N. Nwabulu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has convicted and sentenced a fake spiritualist, Solomon Odigie Moses, to one year in prison for sextortion.

A press statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Head,  Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, noted that Moses was arraigned on one-count charge bordering on cheating and posing as a spiritualist, thereby defrauding and obtaining the sum of $1,100 from an Indian lady seeking spiritual healing.

Moses, who was arrested in Ekpoma, Edo state, received and laundered the $1100, via his Zelle payment platform, and the Naira equivalent was paid into his local bank account.

The Spokesperson said the convict subsequently deceived her into taking a naked spiritual bath, which he recorded live without her permission, and thereafter blackmailed her to send him money, else he would make the video public.

Investigation by the EFCC revealed that the victim had to pay the sum of $1,100 to the suspect in order to prevail on him not to release her nudity to the public.

He said the charge against him read: “That you Solomon Odigie Moses(A.K.A DR SOLOMON) sometimes in 2026 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate a spiritual leader named Dr. Solomon on a fictitious Tiktok account and obtained the sum of $1100 (One thousand one hundred dollars) from an Indian lady by name Sharon Kaur, for the purpose of spiritual prayer and assistance, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Act (Abuja) LLFN, 1990 and punishable under Section 322 of the same Act.”

Oyewale said the spiritualist pleaded guilty to the charge  following which the prosecution counsel, Maryam Hayatudeen, urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

In his ruling, Justice Nwabulu convicted and sentenced Moses to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N300,000(Three Hundred Thousand Naira).

The judge further directed that the $1,100 proceeds of crime be forfeited to the victim through EFCC.