Puzzle as police arraign traditional priest for scam, rape

By Olakunle Olafioye
Sun
January 17, 2016

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/puzzle-as-police-arraign-traditional-priest-for-scam-rape/

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 Emuer­hi, 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 with­held) ‘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.