Spiritual Healer remanded for alleged N16.5 million fraud

A 55-year-old spiritual healer named Samuel Zungwe found himself remanded in custody by a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding a woman of N16.5 million.

Zungwe, who resides in Samuel Compound, Orlufaga, Den Street, Gbanka, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue, was brought before the court by the police on a one-count charge related to fraud.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Adah Jack, refrained from taking the defendant’s plea due to jurisdictional issues. Instead, Jack ordered that Zungwe be remanded in Makurdi Correctional Centre pending further investigations.

The case was adjourned until November 7 for further proceedings.

The charges stem from a petition written by Pevigo Peter to the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, on October 3. In the petition, Peter claimed that in 2011, his wife, Mrs. Hajara Peter, came into contact with the defendant, who convinced her that he could cure her abdominal pain.

According to the police prosecutor, Insp Regina Ishaya, the self-proclaimed spiritual healer persuaded Hajara to make monthly payments ranging from N70,000 to N120,000 under the pretense of building six churches, accumulating a total of N15 million over time. The defendant allegedly threatened the victim, telling her not to reveal the payments to anyone or else she and her family would face dire consequences.

The complainant further stated that the defendant claimed to have completed the churches and requested additional money for fencing and furnishing. He coerced the victim into transferring N1.5 million to a Polaris Bank account. When the victim requested to see the churches under construction, the defendant couldn’t provide any evidence, leading her to realize she had been deceived and report the matter to her husband.

Subsequent police investigations led to the defendant’s arrest, and he confessed to the crime. The case remains under investigation.

The charges are based on the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Penal Code Law of Benue State, 2004.