The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced its intention to arraign five herbalists who were recently arrested in Lagos and Osun states. These arrests stem from allegations of possession of counterfeit foreign currencies, amounting to approximately $3.4 million and €280,000. The anti-graft agency confirmed the developments via its official Facebook page on a Wednesday, detailing that the arrests were initiated following a petition.

The petition specifically accused the suspects of defrauding a victim, identified as Halima Sanni, of N26 million. According to the EFCC, the herbalists allegedly specialized in deceiving members of the public by presenting themselves as spiritual healers. They claimed to offer powerful cleansing rituals and supernatural solutions to various personal and financial problems, exploiting vulnerabilities for illicit gains.

A key aspect of their alleged scheme involved claiming mystical powers to generate foreign currencies. These generated funds, they reportedly asserted, required spiritual purification through sacrifices before they could be used. Victims were allegedly hypnotized into releasing substantial sums of money to finance these purported rituals, believing they were contributing to a legitimate process that would yield vast wealth.

The suspects have been identified as Akingbola Omotayo, Adeola Funsho Ogunrinde, Yahaya Amodu, Kubratu Babalola Olaitan, and Familola Sunday Olaitan. They were apprehended on December 7 and 8, 2025, at their respective shrines. Their arrests were the culmination of sustained surveillance and intelligence-led operations conducted across both Lagos and Osun states, showcasing the EFCC's thorough investigative work.

Investigations conducted by the EFCC have further revealed that these individuals allegedly fleeced unsuspecting members of the public of their hard-earned money. This was done under the elaborate guise of providing spiritual cleansing and treatments for various ailments, extending their fraudulent activities beyond just currency generation. During the operations that led to their apprehension, operatives recovered several items pertinent to the case, including two exotic vehicles and multiple mobile phones, all believed to be linked to their alleged criminal activities. The EFCC has affirmed that the suspects will face charges in court once all investigations are fully concluded.