FAKE SPIRITUALIST SENTENCED AFTER USING NUDE VIDEO TO BLACKMAIL WOMAN

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a fake spiritualist, Solomon Odigie Moses, popularly known as Dr Solomon, to one year in prison after he pleaded guilty to cheating and impersonation. Justice C.N. Nwabulu handed down the sentence on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission prosecuted Moses for posing as a spiritual leader and defrauding an Indian woman who had approached him for spiritual assistance.

According to the EFCC, Moses used a fictitious TikTok account to present himself as a spiritual leader and obtained $1,100 from the woman, identified as Sharon Kaur, for prayers and spiritual healing. Moses, who was arrested in Ekpoma, Edo State, reportedly received the money through his Zelle payment platform before the naira equivalent was transferred into his Nigerian bank account.

The situation later escalated when Moses allegedly convinced Kaur to undergo a naked spiritual bath as part of the supposed spiritual treatment. He secretly recorded the session without her permission and subsequently used the video to threaten and blackmail her, warning that he would release the footage publicly unless she paid him more money. The EFCC said its investigation established that the victim eventually paid another $1,100 to prevent the intimate video from being released.

Moses was charged with fraudulently impersonating a spiritual leader known as Dr Solomon through a fictitious TikTok account and obtaining money from Kaur under the guise of providing spiritual prayers and assistance. The offence was said to contravene Section 321 of the Penal Code Act and is punishable under Section 322 of the same law. He pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting EFCC prosecution counsel, Maryam Hayatudeen, to ask the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

In his ruling, Justice Nwabulu sentenced Moses to one year imprisonment with an option of a N300,000 fine. The judge also ordered that the $1,100 proceeds of crime be forfeited to the victim through the EFCC. The case highlights the dangers of online impersonation and the use of social media platforms to exploit unsuspecting victims through fraudulent spiritual claims and sextortion.