The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 70-year-old cleric, one Sule Shaibu, and his two assistants for allegedly defrauding a woman of N36m.

According to the police, Shaibu and his assistants – Wasiu Salami and Francis Akinola – tricked their unsuspecting victim, Madam Olayinka Ishioye, that they possess powers to solve her ‘spiritual problems’.

The cleric, 55-year-old Salami, and 45-year-old Akinola, are charged with three counts of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and fraudulent conversion.

The prosecution counsel, Sgt. Olalekan Adegbite, told the Iyaganku Magistrates’ court that the trio and others at large, obtained N36million from 55-year-old Ishioye in 2015 with a promise to provide spiritual solutions for her.

He said the trio knew the representation was false.

The offence, he said, contravened Section 383, and is punishable under sections 390 (9), 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol.II, Laws of Oyo State 2000.

Defence Counsel, N.A. Hammed and D.S.Adesanya applied for bail for the defendants on liberal terms.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate S.A. Adesina admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N4million with two sureties in like sum.

Adesina ordered that the sureties must be blood relations, while the second sureties must be a federal civil servant not below GL12.

Adesina adjourned the case until February 3, for hearing.

(NAN)