Police operatives in Lagos have arrested a 43-year-old Muslim cleric, Alhaji Afeez Imoleayo, for alleged abduction of wife and children of a United States-based businessman.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Mohammed Ali, who paraded the suspect at the zonal headquarters in the Ikoyi area of the state on Monday, said he hypnotized the businessman and made him his name to Imoleayo.
He was paraded alongside four other accomplices identified as Ramon Uthman, Saidi Ajayi, Alhaja Monsurat Salami and Kikelomo.
The AIG added that the cleric abducted the man’s wife and children and kept them in his apartment in the Ikorodu area of the state for 13 years.
Mohammed said: “The suspect compelled the abducted woman to also change her name and her children’s names from Animashaun to his, Imoleayo.
“He equally incurred an accumulated debt of N15 million in Mr. Animasaun’s name and compelled him to pay from the United States.
“The suspect was arrested following a petition received from the man last month. The petitioner told the police that he met the cleric after listening to his sermon during one of his visits to Nigeria.
“He exchanged numbers with the cleric and at the end of the day he was brainwashed.”
