EFCC to Prosecute Five Herbalists for Possession of Fake $3.4 Million, €280,000
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that it will prosecute five herbalists arrested in Lagos and Osun states for allegedly possessing counterfeit foreign currencies valued at $3.4 million and €280,000.
In a statement shared on its Facebook page on Wednesday, the commission said the arrests followed reports that the suspects allegedly defrauded a woman, Halima Sanni, of N26 million.
According to the EFCC, the suspects lured members of the public under the pretext of offering spiritual cleansing and healing services. They reportedly claimed to have the ability to conjure foreign currency and hypnotised their victims into paying money for sacrifices supposedly required to generate the funds.
The statement read:
“The herbalists—Akingbola Omotayo, Adeola Funsho Ogunrinde, Yahaya Amodu, Kubratu Babalola Olaitan (female), and Familola Sunday Olaitan—were apprehended on December 7 and 8, 2025, at their shrines in Osun and Lagos states, following detailed surveillance and intelligence gathering on their fraudulent activities.
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“Investigations revealed that the suspects defrauded unsuspecting individuals of their legitimate earnings under the guise of spiritual cleansing and solutions to various ailments. They allegedly claimed they could conjure foreign currency notes, which required spiritual cleansing through sacrifices, and hypnotised victims to provide funds for these rituals.”
The EFCC further stated that during the arrests, operatives recovered additional items, including two exotic cars and mobile phones. The suspects are expected to be formally charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
“Other exhibits recovered from the suspects include two exotic cars and several mobile phones. They will be charged to court once investigations are completed,” the commission added.
This is not the first case of counterfeit currency-related arrests by the EFCC. In May, the agency’s Kano Zonal Office investigated two men found with $899,800 in fake currency. The suspects were apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency while traveling on Maiduguri Road in Wudil, Kano State.
