Herbalist arraigned for posing as Femi Adesina to defraud South Korean of N30m

A Nigerian herbalist identified as Jamiu Isiaka, has been arraigned for allegedly defrauding a South Korean of N30m.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the 31-year-old pretended as the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, and a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru to collect N30 million under the pretext of securing for him an NNPC approval/ marketing form and license certificate to buy crude oil, according to the EFCC.

During interrogation, Isiaka said he used the money to conduct sacrifice for the petitioner.

According to him, part of the money was used to buy vulture, elephant skin and intestine, lion skull and gorilla’s liver.

The EFCC, on June 14, 2019, arraigned the accused on a four-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, impersonation and forgery of documents before Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar.

A man, Dare Folarin was presented as the witness.

The court turned down Isiaka’s bail application and ordered his remand at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Mandala.

On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, his trial resumed and new charges were brought forth by the EFCC who accused him of secretly using the money he got from the Korean to build a house in Kwara.

At the resumed trial, counsel to the EFCC, O. B Akinsola, recalled its key witness, Dare Folarin who explained how Alfa Jamiu Isiaka defrauded a South Korean National, Keun Sig Kim of N30million.

Testifying, Dare Folarin, narrated how intelligence received shortly after the Commission closed its case led to new discoveries on the matter.

Folarin said further investigations on the intelligence showed that the defendant, among other things, used part of the money to acquire properties in Ilorin.

“After the commission closed its case, we discovered a residential building built by the defendant at Oke-Fomo area of Ilorin.We established that Isiaka is the owner of the said property.

“Part of the money he collected from Kim was used to build the house,” Folarin said.

Pictures of the said house were tendered and admitted as exhibits by the court.

Justice Abdulgafar after looking at the case, adjourned till January 21, 2021, for the defendant to open his defence.