Ibadan 'Prophet' jailed for stealing woman’s handbag

By Joshua Omoniyi

 Fake Prophet's Divine Deception Leads to Jail Time: A Cautionary Tale from Ibadan

In a bizarre case of religious exploitation gone wrong, a self-proclaimed 'prophet' has learned that divine deception comes with earthly consequences. Ezekiel Onikoyi, 39, will be spending the next two weeks behind bars at Ibadan's Agodi Correctional Centre for a crafty scheme that left a hardworking woman without her belongings.

The drama unfolded on March 14 at the old Toll Gate along the bustling Ibadan-Lagos Expressway. Onikoyi, masquerading as a prophet, targeted Mrs. Balikis Adeoti, who was simply trying to get home from work. His modus operandi? A classic combination of spiritual manipulation and sleight of hand.

Claiming to have a "divine revelation" for Adeoti, Onikoyi convinced her to participate in what seemed like a spiritual exercise. The instructions were simple but suspicious: leave her bag, walk to a nearby junction, pray, and drop a ₦100 note for "problem-solving." By the time Adeoti returned from this "spiritual assignment," both the fake prophet and her belongings had vanished into thin air.

The stolen items included phones and a power bank valued at ₦220,000, plus ₦4,000 in cash. While authorities recovered the power bank, the phones remain missing.

Justice was swift at the Iyaganku Magistrates' Court, where Magistrate Gladys Oladele gave Onikoyi a choice: two weeks in jail or one month of community service. The court also ordered the return of the recovered power bank to its rightful owner.

This case serves as a stark reminder to be wary of strangers claiming spiritual authority, especially those asking you to part with your belongings. As one local resident commented, "True prophets don't prowl expressways looking for victims."