The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said its operatives from the Ibadan Zonal Directorate have arrested five herbalists who are in possesion of counterfeit foreign notes to the tune of Three Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars ($3, 430, 000) and Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand Euros (€280, 000) in possession of a five-member syndicate.
They were arrested for allegedly swindling one Halima Sanni the sum of Twenty-Six Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N26, 550, 000).
The arrested herbalists, according to the Commission, are Akingbola Omotayo, Adeola Funsho Ogunrinde, Yahaya Amodu, Kubratu Babalola Olaitan (female) and Familola Sunday Olaitan. They were arrested on December 7 and 8, 2025, at their shrines in Osun and Lagos States, respectively, following thorough surveillance and intelligence on their fraudulent activities.
According to the anti-graft agency, the suspects were allegedly defrauding unsuspecting individuals of their legitimate earnings under the pretence of providing spiritual cleansing and solutions to different ailments.
They also allegedly assured their victims of their powers to conjure several currency notes, which a genie must clean up through spiritual sacrifice before spending the money. They did all these by hypnotising their victims to provide money for the sacrifice.
Other items recovered from the herbalists include two exotic cars and mobile phones.
The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, the Commission said.
