Three men have been arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, over an alleged N6.8 million fraud involving a spiritual seeker.
The defendants, identified as 53-year-old Waheed Bojesomo, 59-year-old Olajide Olakanmi and 46-year-old Olayinka Oludayo, were brought before the court on Tuesday.
They are facing three charges bordering on conspiracy, fraud and stealing. All three defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
According to the prosecution, the alleged fraud was carried out over a period spanning 2022 to October 2025 at Apatere village in Ibadan.
The prosecutor, ASP Sikiru Opaleye, told the court that the defendants allegedly worked together to obtain money from Muritala Abiodun under false pretences.
Opaleye alleged that the defendants convinced Abiodun that they could prepare a spiritual soap for him and collected N6.8 million in the process.
The prosecution further claimed that the defendants knew the representation was false but proceeded to obtain the money and allegedly converted it for their personal use.
The prosecutor urged the court to consider the allegations against the defendants as offences punishable under Sections 390(9), 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
However, the defendants denied the allegations by entering not-guilty pleas to all the charges.
Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi subsequently granted each defendant bail of N2.5 million.
The court also directed each defendant to provide two sureties in the same amount as part of the bail conditions.
Ogunkanmi further ruled that one of the sureties for each defendant must be a blood relative.
The magistrate adjourned the case until October 22, 2026, when proceedings are expected to continue.