A woman who thought it wise to give fake prophecies and in so doing con people out of their money, has landed in hot soup.
Bola Simon
The woman identified as Biola Simon, has been arrested.
She was arrested by the police in Lagos State for allegedly
defrauding bank customers after giving them fake prophecies in the
Dopemu area.
According to Punch Metro, Simon, who came from Ibadan, Oyo State,
was arrested on Thursday by the Dopemu Police Division, after one of her
victims reported her to the police.
While the suspect was arrested, it was learnt that other suspected accomplices fled.
It was gathered that a sum of N150,000, which the woman had
allegedly swindled out from her victim, was recovered by the policemen
after the arrest.
A police source at the Dopemu division said Simon belonged to a
four-member syndicate that specialised in defrauding unsuspecting bank
customers in the area through fake prophecies.
He said, “In her statement, she confessed that the syndicate’s
mode of operation was to lurk around bank premises, while her role was
to accost a bank customer suspected to be with money.
“The suspect explained that she would pretend that she was new
in Lagos and asked for direction from the victim. Simon would
subsequently make shocking spiritual revelations about her victim, after
which she would advise that a special prayer must be offered for the
victim.
“The next move was to take the victim to a nearby place where
the three other accomplices were waiting and they would replace the
money withdrawn by the victim with disposable papers, covered with a few
naira notes.
“A man who the suspect tried to swindle on Thursday of N150,000
raised the alarm, and a police patrol team in the area apprehended
Simon.”
A witness, Rafiu Jimoh, said the policemen had returned the money to the victim.
He said, “The woman dressed responsibly, but she usually begged
targeted customers coming out of the bank to direct her to an address.
She is believed to use magical powers, as she will thereafter start
giving revelations about her victim, luring the person to go for prayers
with her.
“While the purported prayer is going on by the syndicate, the
contents of the victim’s bag or purse will be replaced with papers
covered with a few real notes. They will thereafter disappear with the
money.
“The woman was arrested on Thursday by a police patrol team,
but the three others escaped in a car. The stolen N150,000 was recovered
and returned to the victim.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed Simon’s arrest.
“The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has directed that the suspect be charged to court,” she added.
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