A High Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State, has sentenced a self-acclaimed native doctor, Akinyola Ogundale, to 31 years imprisonment for defrauding a woman of more than N5 million through threats, intimidation and fake spiritual promises.
Justice D.A. Onyefulu delivered the judgment on Monday, convicting Ogundale on two counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and fraudulent conversion.
The court held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant exploited the victim psychologically and spiritually in order to extort money from her and her family members.
According to the prosecution, the incident began in July 2024 when the victim, Juliet Onabe, met Ogundale while travelling from Onitsha to Ondo on a business trip.
Presenting himself as a powerful native doctor capable of performing rituals that could make her wealthy, Ogundale allegedly lured the woman into a web of fear and manipulation.
The court heard that the convict repeatedly threatened the victim with death if she failed to provide more money. Witnesses told the court that the deceased was often heard pleading with him, saying, “Akin, I will bring the money.”
Under mounting pressure, the victim reportedly borrowed funds from several people in a desperate attempt to meet the defendant’s demands.
Evidence tendered before the court included bank transfer records, account statements and the defendant’s extra-judicial statement, in which he admitted collecting money from the victim under the guise of performing spiritual and ritual services.
The prosecution further established that Ogundale forced the deceased to transfer funds from her bank and Opay accounts and also seized cash meant for her business activities.
During the trial, two witnesses testified for the prosecution.
The proceedings took another dramatic turn when the defendant absconded after being granted bail. However, the court continued the trial in his absence in line with Section 177(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
In his judgment, Justice Onyefulu sentenced Ogundale to 21 years imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretence and 10 years for fraudulent conversion.
The offences contravened Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act and Section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Law of Anambra State.
