The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Abayomi Kamaldeen Alaka (aka Awise).
Awise is the leader of a murderous union of juju crooks that operates from a shrine in the town of Airshipa, near Abeokuta Ogun state.
He was arrested following a petition from a victim, Juliet Bright, who lost 250 million nairas to the gang after being tricked into providing money for sacrifices to cure her of disease.
Juliet was introduced to Alaka by Akinola Bukola Augustina (aka Iya Osun) whom she met on Facebook.
EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren said in a statement that what drew Juliette to Augustina was her post as Osunbukola Olamitutu Spiritual Healing Center.
Augustina promised Juliet’s recovery only if she paid N16million. The victim deposited the money into an account belonging to Mohammed Sani, an operator of the bureau de change.
Subsequently, Augustina passed the victim on to other union members, including Awise. Juliet then met Awise at her shrine in the town of Airshipa where she was hypnotized.
Juliet then transferred various amounts via bank accounts and cash to the suspect and her colleagues, until she lost 250 million naira without recovery.
Acting on his petition, a team from the Foreign Exchange Fraud Section (FEMS) at EFCC headquarters on May 21, 2021, arrested Sani and Augustina in Egbeda and Abule Egba in an undercover operation.
Augustina, currently on administrative bail, drove officers to the shrine of Awise, but escaped arrest after hearing of the officers. Detectives kept an eye on him until he was caught.
Uwujaren revealed that the EFCC has tracked and marked a number of assets linked to Awise.
“The assets include a large piece of land in the town of Airshipa, Abeokuta, used as a sanctuary to deceive the plaintiff; a recently renovated gas station named Alaka Oil and Gas at No.2, Adeneye Street, Oke-Oriya in Ikorodu, Lagos.
“An unfinished event venue named Alaka Event Center at # 2, Adeneye Street, Oke-Oriya, Ikorodu; unfinished apartment buildings at # 2, Adeneye Street, Oke-Oriya, Ikorodu, and a newly renovated storey building with boys quarters at # 22, PSSDC Road, Magodo Phase 2. “
The suspects will be brought to justice as soon as the investigations are completed.
