Nigeria: EFCC arrest herbalists with $3.4M, €280,000 counterfeit notes
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a five-man syndicate allegedly in possession of counterfeit foreign notes comprising $3,430,000 and €280,000 euros in Osun and Lagos States. The suspects, who are also herbalists, allegedly swindled one Halima Sanni of N26,550,000.
According to EFCC Spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the suspects were arrested at their shrines on December 7 in Osun and December 8 in Lagos, following thorough surveillance and intelligence on their fraudulent activities. The suspects allegedly defrauded unsuspecting individuals of their legitimate earnings under the pretense of providing spiritual cleansing and solutions to different ailments.
The suspects claimed to have supernatural powers to conjure currency notes, which required spiritual sacrifice and cleansing by a genie before spending the money. They hypnotized their victims into providing money for the sacrifice.
The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. The EFCC has warned that it will not tolerate such fraudulent activities, and efforts are being made to track down other members of the syndicate.
