The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a fake spiritualist, Solomon Odigie Moses, to one year in prison for defrauding an Indian woman and blackmailing her with a nude video.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a statement on Thursday that Moses was convicted on a one-count charge involving cheating, impersonation as a spiritualist, fraud and obtaining $1,100 from the woman, who had sought spiritual healing.
According to the EFCC, Moses was arrested in Ekpoma, Edo State, after receiving the money through his Zelle payment platform and transferring its naira equivalent to his local bank account.
The anti-graft agency said Moses later instructed the woman to take part in a naked spiritual bath, which he secretly recorded without her consent.
He subsequently threatened to publish the video unless she paid him money.
The EFCC said its investigation found that the victim eventually paid Moses $1,100 to prevent him from releasing the video publicly.
Moses pleaded guilty to the charge. Following his plea, prosecution counsel Maryam Hayatudeen asked the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the law.
Justice C.N. Nwabulu convicted Moses and sentenced him to one year in prison, with an option of a N300,000 fine.
The judge also ordered that the $1,100 obtained through the offence be forfeited to the victim through the EFCC.
