[b] (Photo)
A woman, Biola Simon, has been arrested by
the police in Lagos State for allegedly
defrauding bank customers after giving them
fake prophecies in the Dopemu area.
Punch learnt that 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.
[IMG]https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aADwkTibHrk/WCVZS1QNxtI/AAAAAAAAPWk/C9swJh1WAZku01vt-BEJYrHf-q7lNabMgCLcB/s1600/Simon.jpg[/IMG]
While the suspect was arrested, it was learnt
that other suspected accomplices fled.
Punch 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would replace the money withdrawn by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.[/b]
