Native Doctor Accused Of N21.1m Fraud And Administering Acid As Concotion

A 45-year-old native doctor, Jamiu Alao, was on Monday charged with defrauding two men of N21.1 million and attempted murder at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Mr. Alao, who lives at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, is facing charges of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and attempted murder.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

But the prosecutor, Innocent Odugbo, told the court that Mr. Alao committed the offences with others still at large sometime in April at Mayfair Estate, Ajah in Lekki.

He said the native doctor collected N3million from one Raimi Oluwaseyi under the guise of giving him spiritual protection.

The prosecutor said the accused had on April 8 at Ijabi Quarters, Ijebu-Ode, also collected $116,000 (N19.1million) from Mr. Oluwaseyi and one David Orji on the pretext of protecting them spiritually.

“The native doctor gave the complainants a substance to drink for spiritual protection and directed that it should be consumed at a residence in Lagos.

“Orji and Oluwaseyi drank the substance which turned out to be an acid,” Mr. Odugbo said.

According to Odugbo, the complainants had to travel abroad to seek urgent medical attention for internal injuries they received.

He said the offences contravened Sections 228(2), 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 228 (2) recommends life imprisonment for attempted murder.

The Magistrate granted the native doctor bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned to June 30 for mention.

(NAN)