Clerics In Police Net For Using Python Snake To Extort Money From Clients

the suspects, kayode Oseni and Jamiu Kayode

March 2nd, 2012 – Clerics In Police Net For Using Python Snake To Extort Money From Clients

The sight of a live python snake inside the apartment of one Alhaji Kuku Jelili’s sitting room, in Ikotun area of Lagos recently, sent fear down the spine of members of the family, including two Muslim clerics otherwise known as alpha . naijagists.com

According to vanguardngr, the startling discovery of the snake was made during a prayer session by the alphas. But unknown to  Kuku who employed their spiritual services, the snake was planted by the alphas, with a view to extorting money from him.
As you read this piece, the Muslim clerics have been arrested by the police  and charged to court.

In this interview with Crime Guard, 42 year-ld Kayode Oseni, admitted to have personally planted the snake in Kuku’s apartment, revealing however that  the idea was sold to him by one Alpha Kasamadupe.   According to him, “ Alpha Kashamadupe called me to go and pray for Alhaji Jelili Kuku.

He told us that the client  earlier gave him N40,000  . But he did not give me any amount from it.  He also gave me the snake to plant in Kuku’s sitting room saying  I should bring  it out during prayer section. He said we could extort Alhaji through that process,since he was looking for spiritual solution to his problems.

On the day in question, I kept the snake inside a nylon bag and left for Alhaji Jelili’s place at Ikotun, at about 4pm,  where I  did as instructed”

Asked how he succeeded in planting the snake without being seen, he responded, when we got to the sitting room, there was nobody there , for the person that opened the door went inside to call our client. My instructor told me that when I bring out the snake, I should attribute all Kuku’s misfortune to the presence of the creature” I guess the Alhaji was smart because  he invited the police . I think he suspected us”, he said.

But unknown to him, Alhaji Kuku reportedly sighted him when he dropped the strange object behind one of the sofas but looked away apparently thinking it was part of the spiritual cleansing they came for.

His alleged partner in crime,  Jamiu Adeyemi, (37) denied having knowledge of Kayode’s intention,saying he only accompanied him to pray for their client.
Hear him, “ I sell motor parts at Ibadan and also conduct prayers for people as an alfa.  Alfa Kayode called me on that fateful day to accompany him to pray for someone. On our way to the place , I actually saw him with a nylon but concluded it contained tira(material for prayers).   On reaching there, we started praying and he asked our client to go get water and salt to be sprinkled round the house which he did.

At a point, he said there was a strange creature in the house and we started ransacking everywhere until we saw the snake. Everyone took to his heels including myself. Alpha Kayode asked that a leaf be given to him with which to  capture the snake which he did” it was after we were arrested that I got the actual position of things.”

The suspects were paraded before newsmen at the Oduduwa office of the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Jaiyeoba ,alongside the snake which  attracted a mammoth  crowd.
They were  thereafter, charged to court on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing contrary to and punishable under sections 419 and 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

However , at  the Ejigbo magistrate Court, a mild drama played out itself as  lawyers and litigants were jolted when the investigative Police officer  tendered the live python as an exhibit,which the prosecutor, Oladejo Balogun  refused to accept .

An oral application  requesting  the court to order the police to return the snake to its custody was made. But the Investigative Police Officer was prevented from keeping the exhibit with the court as he was ordered to keep it in his division’s custody, a request that did not augur well with the IPO , who said his  division was tired of keeping the snake in its custody since the arrest of the suspects.

The matter was adjourned to March 14 2012, for mention, with the  presiding magistrate, Mrs. M. B. Folami  ordering the police to return the snake to their exhibit room till the next adjourned date.

Wonders shall never end oooo !