A LAGOS-BASED traditional priest has been
arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrate Court for offences
bordering on fraud and sexual crime.
The suspect, Ifatade Elegbeleye Ademola, 42, who
was dragged before the court presided over by
Mrs. O.A Olayinka Sunday Sun gathered, had
allegedly detained and raped one of his female
clients (name withheld) on March 12, 2012.
He was equally accused of casting a spell on his
victim, who reportedly lost her senses, a
development that paved way for Elegbeleye to
manipulate his victim between March 2011 when
he met the lady at Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos and
April, 2013.
Sunday Sun reportedly gathered that the lady
had, upon meeting the suspect, sought his
assistance over spiritual problems. During the
period, Elegbeleye was said to have had sexual
intercourse with the lady, while she was
hypnotised by him. He also defrauded his victim
to the tune of N7.9 million.
Arraigning the suspect last Tuesday, the
prosecuting police officer, Inspector Benson Emuer
hi, told the court that the suspect contravened
Sections 409, 128, 312, 266 and 288 Criminal
Laws of Lagos. The five-count charge against the
suspect read:
“That you Ifatade Elegbeleye Ademola ‘m’ and
others now at large sometime between March
2011 to April, 2013 at Olude Bus Stop, Ipaja, in
the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire among
yourselves to commit felony, to wit, stealing and
thereby committed an offence punishable under
Section 409 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State of
Nigeria, 2011.
“That you Ifatade Elelgbeleye Ademola ‘m’ and
others now at large on the same date, time and
place in the aforementioned Magisterial District
presided over a trial by ordeal on one (name with
held) ‘f’ by invoking juju spell on her as a result
of which she lost her mental state and thereby
committed an offence punishable under Sections
128 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria,
2011.
“That you Ifatade Elelgbeleye Ademola ‘m’ on the
same date, time and place in the aforementioned
Magisterial District with intent to defraud,
fraudulently obtained N7.9m from (name
withheld) ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence
contrary to and punishable under Sections 312 of
Criminal Law cap 42 laws of Lagos State of
Nigeria, 2011.
“That you Ifatade Elelgbeleye Ademola ‘m’ on
March, 2012, detained (name withheld) ‘f’ at your
shrine at Olude Bus Stop, Ipaja in the
aforementioned Magisterial District with intent to
have sexual intercourse with her and thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable
under Section 266 Criminal Law cap 42 laws of
Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
“That you Ifatade Elelgbeleye Ademola ‘m’ on the
same date, time and place in the aforementioned
Magisterial District did steal seven million, nine
hundred thousand Naira property of one (name
withheld) ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence
punishaforementioned Magisterial District did able
under Section 285 of Criminal code cap 42 Laws
of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”
The suspect however pleaded not guilty to all the
counts of the charge.
A twist was, however, added to the matter as
counsel to the defendant informed the court that
the victim’s mother had equally instituted a
similar case against his client at an Ogba
Magistrate Court and added that next hearing on
the matter is slated for Wednesday, January 20,
2016.
The presiding judge then requested for a copy of
the charge sheet of the said matter which the
defendant’s counsel could not produce.
Countering the claim, the plaintiff informed the
court that the matter referred to by the defendant
was a different case.
Meanwhile, the presiding magistrate admitted the
suspect to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two
sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must
show evidence of tax payment in the last one
year.
Sunday Sun further gathered that the suspect’s
ordeal is coming few weeks after he was released
from prison custody for similar offences. It could,
however, not be ascertained if the case for which
he was remanded was the same with his current
trial.
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