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By Christopher Oji
The Zone 2 Police Command headquarters, Onikan Lagos, has arrested a popular Muslim cleric (Alfa), Afeez Uthman Imolayo, 43, for allegedly swindling a Nigerian based in America of the sum of N105 million.
The cleric was also alleged to have used spiritual powers to take over the victims wife, children, and several landed properties in Lagos.
The suspect, who was paraded, yesterday, by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 Police Command, denied using spiritual means to take over his victim’s wife and children, nor did he force him and members of his family to change their names to his, adding that the victim loved the way he preached during a crusade and decided to make him his spiritual father.
In his confessional statement to the police, the suspect admitted to have received N105 million from the victim, Oluwasegun, who he claimed was his spiritual son.
He said: “He gave me the money and landed properties, changed his name, that of his wife and children to mine, out of his own will. I didn’t use any means to convince him to change his name and all the documents to my name. He decided to change his name on his American international passport and social security number from his original name to mine”.
Parading the suspect, his wife, and three others, AIG Ari Mohammed Ali, said: “On July 17, 2023, Mr. Oluwasegun, also known as Afeez Uthman, brought a petition of criminal conspiracy, compelling action by intimidation, obtaining by false pretence, threat to life, suspected ritualist, stealing, criminal charms and conduct likely to cause breach of peace against Alhaji Afeez Uthman Imole Ayo; Alhaja Mushirafat Kekelomo Salaam, a female; Saheed Ajayi Uthma Temidayo Rashmon, and others now at large.”
The AIG said the petition was referred to the anti piracy unit of the zone, for discrete investigation. “A team of operatives, led by SP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi, swung into action and apprehended five suspects, in connection with the alleged crimes. One white Toyota Venza 2009 model, one Ashuk Leland bus with registration number JJJ933YD, and various landed properties were recovered from the suspect.
Ali said the suspect, Ayo 43, claimed to be an Islamic cleric and founder of Amaaniyat – UR- Rahman global congregation.
The AIG said: “The suspect abducted the petitioner’s wife and children for more than 10 years, subsequently changed the complainant’s wife and children’s names to his personal name through the help of his wife, Alhaja Mushirafat Kikelomo Salaam, for extortion purposes.
“He then converted all the petitioner’s properties to his personal use and, also, compelled the complaint, who he placed under oath, to be paying the loans that he took. All the money the complaint was making in America was being sent to the suspect, who claimed that God directed him to do so.
“It was God that opened the petitioner’s eyes 10 years after, when he realised that what he was doing was not ordinary and got himself together, relocated from the USA, where he was based, and put up the petition. It is my humble advice to both Muslim and Christian faithful to be careful with whoever they called Pastor or Alfa. You should be careful because not all that glitters is gold. The wife of the suspect confessed to the falsification and alterations of the birth documents of the complainant’s children, by changing the children’s birth identities to Alhaji Afeez Uthman’s name without the complaint’s consent. She also admitted to have received over $17,000, equivalent to N11.817 million. “A herbalist, Oyedokun Amos, 65, who usually assisted the suspect to prepare charms to hypnotise his customer, confessed that he knew the suspect for over 15 years, and they became friends and business partners. He confessed that he was helping the suspect to prepare some charms. He said the investigation revealed that the suspect met the complainant at a crusade ground in Lagos, after which they became friends.
“The complainant is based in the USA and became close to the suspect about 16 years ago. While they were friends the complainant started to send the suspect some money to help him carry out a project,but rather than the suspect do the project ,he converted the complainant’s entire savings amounting to over N105 million to his personal use.
“As if that was not enough, he took over the man’s wife, children, and two cars. He also went as far as changing the man’s wife and children’s names into his. The names on their traveling documents were also changed. We will soon charge the suspect and his accomplices to court.
