Saraki loyalists go spiritual, hire 1500 Islamic clerics

Supporters and loyalists of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki have engaged in vigil and fasting.

One of the conveners of the prayers, Mr. Kayode Yusuf, who is popularly called ‘Maja,’ in an interview with our correspondent in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Saturday, said prayer sessions were being held all over the state, especially in the Ilorin motropolis.

Bukola Saraki

He said he had mobilised over 500 Muslim clerics while about 1,000, including the Chief Iman of Ilorin, Mohammad Solihu were praying in different areas in the state for Saraki’s victory.

“Yusuf, who is the convener of ‘Maja Elders Forum’, called on President Buhari to intervene and prevent the polity from being over-heated.

He expressed the hope that Saraki’s travail would soon be over.

Yusuf said, “We in Kwara are powerless. The only thing we can do is to support him (Saraki) with prayers. We have no money, soldiers, police or any other security apparatus. We are just ordinary citizens of Kwara and Nigeria. But we in Kwara, especially in Ilorin, believe in the power of prayers.

“All of us in Ilorin, including the Chief Imam of Ilorin, are involved in the prayers. Saraki is our leader. He must not come down. Within the short time that he was elevated as the Senate President, we know what we have benefited from him.

“I have mobilised more than 500 Imans and over 1,000 others are praying in different areas. They have been praying and fasting. Even the women are praying for him. Saraki is our benefactor. Even the uneducated do not want anything to happen to Bukola Saraki. They are not sleeping but are also praying. The prayers will last till Saraki’s ordeal is over.”

In a related development, a coalition of civil society organisations under the aegis of Heritage Centre and the National Association of Nigerian Students have threatened to lead mass protests to foreign embassies in Abuja to protest alleged political vendetta being carried out against the Senate President.

Saraki loyalists go spiritual, hire 1500 Islamic clerics

Islamic cleric dupes businessman N1.2 million in Ogun state

For allegedly duping a prospective businessman of N1.2 million, an Islamic cleric, Abdullakeem Sulaimon, was on Friday arraigned in an Ota Senior Magistrates’ Court in Ogun.

Mr. Sulaimon, 33, who lives at No. 16, Joju St., Sango Ota, is standing trial on a three-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, stealing and conspiracy.

The prosecutor, lta Ebibomino, told the court that the cleric and one other person still at large committed the offences on December 18, 2013, at Joju area of Sango-Ota

Mr. Ebibomino, a police sergeant, said the accused induced one Adam Iginla to part with the money on the pretext that after praying over it, any business started with it would achieve good fortune.

The prosecutor said that after the cleric received the money, he did not return it to Mr. Iginla in spite of several demands.

Mr. Ebibomino said that the offences committed contravened sections 390, 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Vol. 1, Revised Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

The cleric, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges

Section 419 of the criminal code prescribes 15 years imprisonment for fraud.

The Magistrate, Titi Bello, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She said one of the sureties must be a senior officer on not lower than Grade level 14 in the state civil service while the other should have developed property.

The case was adjourned till May 19 for mention.

(NAN)

Islamic cleric dupes businessman N1.2 million in Ogun state

Islamic Cleric Caught While Beheading a Woman in His Room in Ibadan

BUT for providence, another ritual target would have been killed in Ibadan at the weekend by an Islamic cleric (Alfa).

Chiwendu Nkwocha  was already pinned to the ground  by  the suspect, Isa Salaudeen, in his room  at Ori Eru in Ibadan, with the knife slicing through her neck when, with the last strength in her, she  screamed for help  at the top of her voice.

Residents in the neighbourhood rushed to the scene with one of them kicking the door open. When Salaudeen looked up, he saw a crowd.

He dropped the knife and made to flee. He did not go far before he was caught and given the beating of his life. Some in the crowd even wanted him lynched on the spot.

A resident of the area told The Nation that the suspect had told his victim, Nkwocha, that she needed to be exorcised of some evil spirits troubling her.

The ‘ritual ‘would be performed by the Alfa with Nkwocha all alone with him in the room, the source said. She agreed and the Alfa commenced the ‘ritual’ by pinning her to the ground and putting the knife to her neck.

However, the knife appeared not to be sharp enough and forced the Alfa to reach for another knife.

That gave the victim an opportunity to fight for her life by shouting for help.

The eyewitness said: “People heard the lady shout from inside the house and they kicked the door open only to find her pinned down by the Alfa who was already cutting her neck.

“But once the door was kicked open by those who responded to the woman’s shouts for help, the Alfa ran out of the house when the first person broke in.

“The woman’s neck was already cut. The head would have been totally cut off if help hadn’t come”.

Another resident of the area, Taiwo Agunlofi, said   angry youths gave the fleeing Alfa a chase and caught up with him in no time. They were in the process of lynching him when the police arrived the scene and intervened.

They arrested the suspect and dispersed the crowd that gathered to kill him. Nkwocha was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Other residents in the area also told The Nation that the victim was brought to Salaudeen by her boyfriend, who was still at large, for “spiritual cleansing”.

According to them, Salaudeen and the yet- to- be named boyfriend must have connived to use her for money rituals.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Olabisi Ilobanafor confirmed the incident and said that Salaudeen was in police custody while investigation continues.

Ilobanafor said it appeared that the suspect used different knives in attempting to slaughter  Nkwocha.According to her, the suspect has made useful statements to the police.

The Alfa’s room and parlour have been locked up. The incident came barely a week after the discovery of the Soka ‘Forest of Death’ in Ibadan suspected to be a den of ritualists.

Many decomposed bodies and human parts were found in the forest while about 18 kidnapped people were rescued alive from the bush. (0)

Islamic Cleric Caught While Beheading a Woman in His Room in Ibadan