Ibadan ‘Prophet’ Jailed For Stealing Woman’s Handbag

Ibadan, Oyo State- An Ibadan-based fraudster who disguised as a prophet, Ezekiel Onikoyi, has been sentenced to two weeks imprisonment for stealing a woman’s handbag containing valuables, including a phone, power bank, and N4,000 in cash.

The 39-year-old convict was found guilty by an Ibadan Magistrate’s Court after defrauding Mrs. Balikis Adeoti at the Old Toll Gate along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway on March 14.

According to Prosecutor Sgt. Samuel Owolabi, Onikoyi approached Adeoti while she was returning from work, claiming to have a divine revelation for her.

He instructed her to place her bag down, walk a short distance to pray, and leave a N100 note at the spot to “solve her problems.”

Unaware of his deceit, Adeoti complied. However, by the time she returned, the so-called prophet had vanished with her handbag, which contained a phone, a power bank worth N220,000, and cash.

The convict was later apprehended, and while the stolen power bank was recovered, the phone remained missing.

Charged with stealing, obtaining by false pretenses, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, Onikoyi pleaded guilty to all counts.

The presiding magistrate, Miss Gladys Oladele, sentenced him to two weeks imprisonment at the Agodi Correctional Centre.

The court also ordered the stolen power bank to be returned to Adeoti and gave Onikoyi an option of serving one month of community service instead of jail time.