Nigerian spiritualist remanded for fraud

A Nigerian, Henritch Amafuel, was on Friday remanded by an Accra Circuit Court for defrauding one Francis Ayiku Otunfour of an amount of USD$ 90,000.00.

Henritch was also charged for possessing counterfeit notes of USD$15,900.00 and two wraps of dried green plants seedlings suspected to be Indian hemp.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges, but was remanded by the Court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh to reappear on December 22.

Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Kwabena Adu told the court that the complainant Francis, is a Businessman based in Accra, while the accused is a self-styled spiritualist, and Nigerian businessman resident in Accra.

He said in November this year, at Kuntunse, Henritch introduced himself as a spiritual father through one Kofi Ohene Kyei who is a friend to the complainant.

He said the accused after the introduction told the complainant that he had foreseen a vision in which the complainant was about to get a financial breakthrough within one month and that he should withdraw all his bank savings and deposit same with him.

The prosecution said Henritch also told the complainant, he would pray over it and within two weeks the money would double after the necessary spiritual purification rites.

Mr Adu told the court that complainant became convinced and handed over an amount of USD$ 90,000.00 to the accused person to be doubled within two weeks.

He said the accused failed to honour his promise after the period and kept giving the complainant excuses.

On December 6, the complainant became alarmed and reported the case to the police, and led the police to Banoc hotel at Medie, where Henritch was arrested in his hotel room.

According to the prosecution, a search conducted in his room revealed two wrapped green plant seedlings suspected to be Indian hemp, USD$ 15,900.00 suspected to be forged, one dead chameleon, two 6 and 7 books of Moses, eight candles and one trunk which he claimed he uses for his spiritual incarnation.