Popular Edo Spiritualist Sentenced to Jail Over Blackmail of Client

A spiritualist from Edo State has been sentenced to one year in prison after defrauding an Indian woman and later blackmailing her with a video recorded during a supposed spiritual healing session.

The convict, Odigie Moses, was sentenced by the Federal High Court in Abuja after pleading guilty to a charge of cheating and impersonation as a spiritualist.

Justice C.N. Nwabulu delivered the judgment on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Moses was arrested in Ekpoma, Edo State, after allegedly posing as a spiritual leader through a fictitious TikTok account.

The EFCC said he used the account to offer spiritual assistance to an Indian woman identified as Sharon Kaur and received $1,100 from her.

The money was reportedly transferred through his Zelle payment platform before the naira equivalent was paid into his local bank account.

The case, however, went beyond the initial fraud.

According to the EFCC, Moses later deceived the woman into participating in a supposed spiritual cleansing session and recorded her without her consent.

He subsequently used the recording to threaten the woman and demanded money from her, the commission said.

The EFCC said its investigation established that the victim eventually paid $1,100 to prevent the recording from being released.

Moses was charged with fraudulently impersonating a spiritual leader and obtaining money from the victim under the pretence of providing spiritual prayers and assistance.

When the charge was read to him in court, he pleaded guilty.

Following the guilty plea, EFCC prosecution counsel Maryam Hayatudeen asked the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the law.

Justice Nwabulu subsequently sentenced Moses to one year imprisonment, with an option of a N300,000 fine.

The court also ordered that the $1,100 proceeds of crime be forfeited to the victim through the EFCC.

The case highlights the risks associated with online impersonation and fraudulent spiritual services, particularly where social media accounts are used to establish trust with unsuspecting victims.

The conviction followed an EFCC investigation into the transaction and the subsequent blackmail complaint.