LAGOS – A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday further adjourned to Dec. 10 the trial of four self-acclaimed religious clerics, charged with N43 million fraud as one of them was said to have taken ill.
The accused are: Jimoh Kadiri, 61; Mohammed Ibrahim, 36; Mohammed Isah, 29; and Ojo Ogunlade, 30.
They are standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them, and were granted bail by the trial judge.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, Counsel to the accused, Mr Olalekan Ojo, informed the court that the first accused was absent in court due to an illness.
He told the court that the accused was currently on admission at a hospital in Illorin, Kwara, and prayed the court for a further date, to enable the accused attend the court.
The prosecutor, Mr Raymond Odion in response, said he did not wish to join issues on the health conditions of the accused.
He said that the accused should provide his medical certificate before the court on the next adjourned date.
Consequently, Justice Okon Abang adjourned the case to Dec. 10 for cross examination of the first prosecution witness, and continuation of trial.
The accused were initially arraigned on Aug. 30, 2013.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.
The prosecution opened its case on May 20, and called its first witness, Mrs Basirat Akinbisehin, who began her evidence before the court.
The witness had narrated how the accused allegedly swindled her of funds, in the guise of “consulting with the spirits” to heal her sick child.
In the charge, the accused were alleged to have obtained the sum of N43.5 million from Akinbisehin, under the pretext that they would cure her daughter’s ailment.
The representation was said to be false, since the child never recovered from her illness, in spite of alleged fervent prayers by the accused.
The offences were said to have contravened Sections 1(a) (3) and 8 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2006. (NAN)
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