A childless housewife, Mrs. Folashade Giwa is now counting her losses after she was made to part with about N2.7m for "deliverance" by a Lagos based prophetess, Christiana Ajibola.
The 60-year-old prophetess whose church is located at 36, Odewale Street in Alagbado, Lagos, has been taken to Ojokoro magistrate’s court on charges of fraud and stealing.
Apart from allegedly defrauding Mrs. Folashade of the said amount, the prophetess is also being accused of initiating her to serve a goddess which the police described in the charge sheet as "man-made-god".
The story started when Mrs. Folashade visited the prophet to seek prayers for the fruit of the womb. The prophetess told her that before she could bear a child, she will undergo deliverance during which she will be "purified".
The prophetess, it was leant, also told her that the currency she pays will determine how speedily her prayer will be answered.
She told her that if she pay in pounds sterling or dollars, her prayers will be answered faster. But if she pay in naira, her prayers will still be answered but not as fast as dollars and pounds sterling. As a result, Mrs. Folashade paid in pounds sterling and dollars so that she could have her own child on time.
According to court document, the woman made payment of £4,500 and $10,000 and cash of N289,000. The total naira equivalent she paid was about N2.7m million.
It was further gathered that the prophetess placed her under several oaths that she should not tell to anyone about her experience. But when her desire to have a child did not materialized as the prophet promised and she could not get her N2.7million, Mrs. Folashade reported the matter at Alagbado Police Station.
Consequently, the prophetess was arrested and charged to court. The offence she committed, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Thomas Nurudeen, was contrary to section 419, 390 and 210 of the criminal act, cap 17 vol. 2 law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2000.
When the charges were read to her, she pleaded not guilty. The presiding magistrate, Mrs. A.F. Adeeyo, granted her bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The matter was then adjourned till February 21, 2012, for further hearing.
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