| ….drama in court over custody of snake
The sight of a live python snake inside the apartment of one Alhaji Kuku Jelili’s sitting room, in Ikotun area of Lagos recently, sent fear down the spine of members of the family, including two Muslim clerics otherwise known as alpha .
The startling discovery of the snake was made during a prayer session by the alphas. But unknown to Kuku who employed their spiritual services, the snake was planted by the alphas, with a view to extorting money from him.
As you read this piece, the Muslim clerics have been arrested by the police and charged to court.
In this interview with Crime Guard, 42 year-ld Kayode Oseni, admitted to have personally planted the snake in Kuku’s apartment, revealing however that the idea was sold to him by one Alpha Kasamadupe. According to him, “ Alpha Kashamadupe called me to go and pray for Alhaji Jelili Kuku.
He told us that the client earlier gave him N40,000 . But he did not give me any amount from it. He also gave me the snake to plant in Kuku’s sitting room saying I should bring it out during prayer section. He said we could extort Alhaji through that process,since he was looking for spiritual solution to his problems.
On the day in question, I kept the snake inside a nylon bag and left for Alhaji Jelili’s place at Ikotun, at about 4pm, where I did as instructedâ€
Asked how he succeeded in planting the snake without being seen, he responded, when we got to the sitting room, there was nobody there , for the person that opened the door went inside to call our client. My instructor told me that when I bring out the snake, I should attribute all Kuku’s misfortune to the presence of the creature†I guess the Alhaji was smart because he invited the police . I think he suspected usâ€, he said. But unknown to him, Alhaji Kuku reportedly sighted him when he dropped the strange object behind one of the sofas but looked away apparently thinking it was part of the spiritual cleansing they came for.
His alleged partner in crime, Jamiu Adeyemi, (37) denied having knowledge of Kayode’s intention,saying he only accompanied him to pray for their client.
Hear him, “ I sell motor parts at Ibadan and also conduct prayers for people as an alfa. Alfa Kayode called me on that fateful day to accompany him to pray for someone. On our way to the place , I actually saw him with a nylon but concluded it contained tira(material for prayers). On reaching there, we started praying and he asked our client to go get water and salt to be sprinkled round the house which he did. At a point, he said there was a strange creature in the house and we started ransacking everywhere until we saw the snake. Everyone took to his heels including myself. Alpha Kayode asked that a leaf be given to him with which to capture the snake which he did†it was after we were arrested that I got the actual position of things.â€
The suspects were paraded before newsmen at the Oduduwa office of the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Jaiyeoba ,alongside the snake which attracted a mammoth crowd.
They were thereafter, charged to court on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing contrary to and punishable under sections 419 and 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State, 2003.
However , at the Ejigbo magistrate Court, a mild drama played out itself as lawyers and litigants were jolted when the investigative Police officer tendered the live python as an exhibit,which the prosecutor |
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