CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 50-year old retired Customs officer turned native doctor, Akin Babalola, has been convicted and handed two years imprisonment without an option of fine for defrauding a 72-year old woman, Mrs Dinah Grace over ‘love portion’.

The convict had alleged that the victim paid him N500,000 to prepare ‘love portion’ in order to win back her estranged husband after they had separated for some years.

However, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs J.O.E Adeyemi found his claim spurious, declared him guilty of fraud and sentenced him accordingly.

The Osun State-born Akin Babalola allegedly obtained N500,000 from Dinah Grace under the false pretence of preparing the love potion for her.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that instead of Babalola keeping his own part of the bargain, he allegedly duped the septuagenarian. He claimed that he could not prepare such as it might cause the death of her estranged husband.

The convicted Babalola was then arrested two years ago and charged before Ejigbo Magistrates court for the alleged offence, he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

The trial dragged on for over two years before the court gave the final judgment and found Babalola guilty.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that during the trial, Dinah who was separated from her husband after many children, denied that she asked Babalola to prepare ‘love portion’ for her as he had claimed and insisted that she was merely duped under false pretence.

On his part, Babalola claimed that he specialised in preparing love medicine and could solve other spiritual problems. Most of his clients were those who had broken homes and marriages which he reportedly used his spiritual powers to restore back.

However, trouble started after Dinah asked Babalola to refund her money since he did not fulfill their agreement but Babalola refused. He threatened to expose her if she asked for the money again.

She went to Igando Police Division and reported that Babalola defrauded her
under false pretence. Babalola was arrested and taken to the
station where he told the police that he collected the money and did not continue with their initial agreement because it involved human life.

The police charged Babalola to court on a three-count charge of felony, obtaining under false pretence and stealing. During the trial, the prosecutor, Supol Kenneth Asibor proved before the court that Babalola was guilty of the criminal offences as charged by the police. The court upheld the charges and jailed Babalola accordingly.

Pmexpressng