Abuja Court Jails Fake Spiritualist One Year for Sextortion

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Solomon Odigie Moses, a fake spiritualist, to one year in prison after he defrauded an Indian woman seeking spiritual assistance and later allegedly used a secretly recorded nude video to blackmail and extort money from her.

Justice C.N. Nwabulu handed down the sentence on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, after Moses pleaded guilty to a one-count charge bordering on cheating and impersonation as a spiritualist.

The case was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which told the court that Moses used a fictitious TikTok account to present himself as a spiritual leader known as “Dr Solomon”.

According to the anti-graft agency, Moses used the social media account to establish contact with an Indian woman identified as Sharon Kaur, who had approached him seeking spiritual healing, prayers and assistance.

Moses allegedly convinced Kaur that he could provide the spiritual help she needed and obtained $1,100 from her for the purported service.

The EFCC said the money was received through Moses’ Zelle payment platform, after which the naira equivalent was transferred into his local bank account.

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The investigation later led to Moses’ arrest in Ekpoma, Edo State, as investigators uncovered another dimension to the alleged fraud involving the victim’s intimate privacy.

The EFCC said Moses subsequently persuaded Kaur to participate in what he presented as a spiritual bath.

During the session, he allegedly caused her to appear naked and secretly recorded the session without her consent.

Moses then allegedly threatened to release the nude recording publicly unless Kaur paid him additional money.

The EFCC said its investigation established that the victim eventually paid another $1,100 to persuade Moses not to publish or distribute the footage.

The case therefore involved two separate payments of $1,100, according to the prosecution: the first allegedly obtained under the guise of providing spiritual services and the second allegedly paid after the victim was threatened with exposure of the intimate recording.

The charge before the court stated that Moses fraudulently impersonated a spiritual leader named Dr Solomon through a fictitious TikTok account and obtained $1,100 from Kaur under the guise of providing spiritual prayers and assistance.

The alleged offence was said to contravene Section 321 of the Penal Code Act applicable in the Federal Capital Territory and punishable under Section 322 of the same law.

When the charge was read to him, Moses pleaded guilty.

Following his plea, EFCC prosecution counsel, Maryam Hayatudeen, urged the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the law.

Justice Nwabulu subsequently sentenced Moses to one year imprisonment with an option of a N300,000 fine.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the $1,100 proceeds of crime to the victim through the EFCC.

The conviction highlights the risks associated with online fraud, social media impersonation and sextortion, particularly schemes in which fraudsters exploit people seeking emotional, spiritual or personal assistance.

The case also demonstrates how online deception can escalate into sexual blackmail, with perpetrators allegedly using private or intimate material obtained from victims as leverage to demand additional payments.

The authorities have continued to warn members of the public to exercise caution when dealing with unknown individuals online, particularly those who make claims of providing spiritual, financial or other specialised services through social media platforms.

Moses’ conviction adds to cases being prosecuted by the EFCC involving the use of digital platforms and false identities to defraud victims and obtain money.

Abuja Court Jails Fake Spiritualist One Year for Sextortion

Ondo Herbal Drink Tragedy: Survivor Vows Never to Drink Again as Death Toll Tops 30

A survivor of the suspected herbal drink tragedy in Ondo State has vowed never to drink alcohol again if God saves him, as the number of people reported dead after consuming suspected adulterated locally made alcoholic drinks in parts of Odigbo Local Government Area has risen to more than 30.

The incident has plunged communities including Odigbo town, Newtown, Orita and Araromi-Obu into mourning, with more than 50 other people reportedly receiving treatment in various health facilities.

The exact number of deaths has varied in different official and media updates as health authorities continue to verify cases and investigate the cause of the deaths.

Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed that a man suspected of selling the drink had been arrested and handed over to the police in Akure.

“A suspect alleged to have sold the herbal drink has been arrested and handed over to the police in Akure,” Adegoroye said.

He added that investigations were ongoing to determine the source and composition of the substance consumed by the victims.

According to the council chairman, preliminary findings from medical experts and toxicologists pointed to the consumption of adulterated locally made alcoholic drinks as a possible link to the deaths.

He said the local government sought urgent intervention after he alerted Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, leading to the deployment of a medical team from Akure to the affected communities.

The team, according to Adegoroye, included officials from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The authorities have continued to investigate the precise substance responsible for the deaths and illnesses, with health officials carrying out medical and toxicological examinations.

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Adegoroye said some of the locally made drinks being investigated were known by different names in the communities, including “Jeji” and “Ere”.

He also identified unapproved locally produced alcoholic drinks and substances suspected to contain unsafe forms of ethanol among the products being examined by toxicologists.

The local government has consequently banned the sale and consumption of locally made alcoholic drinks in the affected areas and directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone who violates the order.

The ban followed growing concerns that continued consumption or sale of unregulated alcoholic products could result in additional deaths.

The authorities have also intensified public awareness campaigns, urging residents to avoid unapproved alcoholic drinks, herbal mixtures, concoctions and other substances whose contents and safety cannot be verified.

The Ondo State Government had earlier confirmed that the deaths were being investigated as a possible public-health emergency after several people suddenly became ill and died within a short period.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said preliminary investigations had ruled out some infectious causes, while authorities continued to examine the possibility of toxic substances in drinks consumed by some of the victims.

Health officials have stressed the need to establish the exact cause through laboratory and toxicological investigations rather than relying solely on accounts from residents or relatives.

Authorities have also taken steps to preserve evidence and determine the circumstances surrounding individual deaths.

Meanwhile, one of the survivors of the incident, 32-year-old Shola Adebayo, has recounted how consuming just two shots of a locally made drink known as “Monkey Tail” left him struggling with his eyesight.

Adebayo said a friend brought the drink from Ore, after which they consumed it together.

He said he did not initially realise that anything was seriously wrong but discovered the following day that he could no longer see properly.

“I took Monkey Tail. On Saturday, I discovered I couldn’t see very well, so I called my sister and I was taken to the hospital,” Adebayo said.

He said his condition had started improving after receiving medical treatment but that he was still praying for his eyesight to return fully.

“I’m getting better, but I’m praying for my eyes,” he said.

The experience, he added, had changed his attitude towards alcohol.

“If God saves me, I swear I will never take any drinks again. Even beer, I won’t take,” the survivor pleaded.

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Adebayo’s account has added to concerns over the potential dangers of consuming locally produced alcoholic drinks whose ingredients, concentration and production processes are unknown.

Families of some of those who died have also spoken about the devastating impact of the incident on the affected communities.

A relative of some victims, Adebayo Adetayo Adedeji, said his family and community had lost three young men whom he identified as Leo, Bidemi and Matthew.

He said Bidemi’s death was particularly painful because the young man was not known to have any illness before he suddenly complained of dizziness and died.

Adedeji welcomed the local government’s decision to suspend the sale and consumption of the suspected drinks, saying stronger action was needed to prevent further deaths.

“If they had not banned the drinking or selling of alcohol in the local government, by now Odigbo would have been a death depot,” he said.

The traditional ruler of Odigbo Kingdom, Oba Dr Rufus Akinrimade, also urged residents to be cautious about what they consume.

The monarch dismissed claims that the deaths were caused by a cultural taboo, saying information available to the community pointed towards the consumption of locally made alcoholic substances.

“At the end of the day, we realised it was caused by taking different alcoholic substances, locally made alcohol,” the monarch said.

He urged residents, particularly young people, to establish the source and safety of substances before consuming them.

The incident has prompted renewed calls for tighter regulation of locally produced alcoholic drinks and stronger enforcement against the sale of unapproved beverages.

Authorities have warned that producers and sellers of unapproved or adulterated alcoholic products could face prosecution if investigations establish their involvement.

For now, however, health authorities are continuing to investigate the exact toxic substance, while the arrested suspected seller remains in police custody as the probe progresses.

The Ondo State Government has urged residents of Odigbo and surrounding communities to remain calm, cooperate with investigators and immediately seek medical attention if they experience symptoms after consuming any alcoholic or herbal product.

The government has also advised residents to avoid unapproved drinks and substances until the investigation into the deaths is concluded.

As survivors such as Adebayo continue treatment, the tragedy has left affected communities grappling with grief while authorities work to establish what caused the deaths and prevent a recurrence.

Ondo Herbal Drink Tragedy: Survivor Vows Never to Drink Again as Death Toll Tops 30

Sokoto Cleric Stabbed Twice in Neck After Juma’at Prayer, Attacker Killed

Tension gripped parts of Sokoto metropolis on Friday after an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Musa Ayyuba Lukuwa, was stabbed shortly after leading the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area of the city.

The cleric was reportedly attacked twice in the neck by a young man who was among the worshippers at the mosque.

The incident occurred shortly after the conclusion of the Friday congregational prayer, with sources saying the suspect had been seated among the worshippers, reportedly in one of the front rows, before allegedly moving towards the cleric and attacking him.

The attack caused panic among worshippers, who reportedly overpowered the suspect before beating him to death.

The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the stabbing and the subsequent death of the suspected attacker.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said Lukuwa was taken to the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, where he was receiving medical treatment.

Rufa’i said the suspected attacker was killed by the cleric’s followers after the stabbing.

He added that no arrest had been made in connection with the killing of the suspected attacker but said security measures had been deployed to prevent the situation from escalating.

According to the police spokesman, an investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify those who may have been involved in the ensuing violence.

The stabbing came against the backdrop of an earlier religious controversy involving Lukuwa and allegations of threats to his life.

The dispute reportedly followed a sermon delivered by the cleric in which he cited a Hadith concerning the parents of Prophet Muhammad. Some Islamic scholars and followers associated with the Tariqa order reportedly considered the remarks offensive.

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The disagreement subsequently escalated, with a man identified as Dahiru Mai Barewa allegedly accused of threatening to kill Lukuwa and another Islamic scholar, Malam Murtala Bello Assada.

The alleged threats were reportedly made in videos circulated on social media.

The matter was subsequently reported to the authorities, leading to the arrest and arraignment of Mai Barewa.

A court later ordered that he be remanded in a correctional facility while the case remained pending.

The issue had continued to generate tension in Sokoto in the days before Friday’s attack.

Reports indicated that youths protested in the city over the continued detention of Mai Barewa and demanded his release. The police reportedly arrested about 20 people during the protest and subsequently charged them to court.

The protests further underscored the sensitivity of the religious dispute and the potential for it to trigger unrest in the city.

Four days before Friday’s stabbing, Lukuwa and members of his group reportedly visited the Sokoto State Government House, where they submitted a written complaint concerning the alleged threats and the controversy surrounding the cleric.

The visit was said to have been part of efforts to draw the attention of the state authorities to concerns over the safety of the cleric and his associates.

Friday’s stabbing has now heightened concerns over security in parts of Sokoto, with reports of increased tension following news of the attack.

Some youths were reportedly seen in parts of the metropolis, including the Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi areas, while some businesses were said to have closed temporarily amid fears of further violence.

Security personnel were also reportedly deployed to strategic locations to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

The police appealed to residents to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

The command said it was taking steps to maintain peace and prevent the incident from spreading to other parts of the metropolis.

The circumstances surrounding the stabbing, including the motive of the suspected attacker and the events that led to his death after he was overpowered by worshippers, remain subject to police investigation.

The incident has also renewed concerns about the dangers of retaliatory violence, particularly in situations involving sensitive religious disputes.

As of the latest report, Sheikh Musa Ayyuba Lukuwa remained at the Specialist Hospital in Sokoto receiving treatment.

The police have not announced any arrest in connection with the killing of the suspected attacker, while investigations into the entire incident continue.

Sokoto Cleric Stabbed Twice in Neck After Juma’at Prayer, Attacker Killed