A dramatic case of alleged large-scale fraud has emerged in Enugu State following the arrest of a female spiritualist, popularly addressed as Ezenwanyi, who is accused of duping a family of over ₦51 million under the guise of conducting spiritual cleansing and sacrifices.
The incident, which has gone viral on social media after a video of her interrogation by security operatives surfaced, has sparked widespread outrage and disbelief across the state. In the footage, the woman is seen being questioned over the outrageous expenses she claimed were part of a spiritual assignment she conducted for her unsuspecting clients.
According to details circulating online, the family was persuaded to part with huge sums of money for what she described as essential sacrifices and ritual requirements, ranging from the procurement of animal heads to ritual paraphernalia. A breakdown of her so-called “work” expenditures revealed staggering figures, including:
- Goat: ₦400,000
- Dog: ₦300,000
- Ram: ₦1.8 million
- Another Ram: ₦2.1 million
- Transport: ₦100,000
- Expenditure: ₦1 million
- Workers: ₦500,000
- Hotel accommodation: ₦10,000 daily for 44 days, totaling ₦440,000
- Instrument for work: ₦5.6 million
- Celebration for work done: ₦1.5 million
The most shocking claim was the alleged borrowing of funds for 21 rams, each priced at ₦1.1 million, which amounted to ₦23.1 million alone.
By the time the alleged spiritual accounting was completed, the total came to ₦54.4 million, a figure far exceeding the ₦51 million initially reported as the amount extorted from the family.
The video shows the suspect struggling to justify the astronomical costs, especially the claim that the “head of a squirrel” could cost up to ₦2.5 million for spiritual work. She appeared visibly shaken as operatives pressed for explanations about how such figures were arrived at.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the family was manipulated into believing that failure to comply with the so-called cleansing rituals would result in dire spiritual consequences. Acting under fear and manipulation, they allegedly sold properties and borrowed funds to meet the endless demands of the self-styled priestess.
The interrogation video has since gone viral, with Nigerians expressing shock, anger, and disbelief at the extent of exploitation. Many have described it as both tragic and ridiculous, while others have called for stiffer regulations to curb fraudulent spiritual practices that prey on the desperation of vulnerable individuals and families.
Security operatives have confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the fraud and whether other families or individuals may have fallen victim to the same scheme. The suspect is expected to face prosecution for obtaining money under false pretenses and related offenses.
The case has reignited debates on the exploitation of faith and spirituality in Nigeria, with social commentators urging citizens to exercise caution and seek rational solutions to personal and family challenges rather than falling prey to dubious spiritualists.