Odigie Moses allegedly threatened to release a woman’s nude video after recording a purported spiritual cleansing session without her consent
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Edo-based self-acclaimed spiritualist Odigie Moses in Ekpoma, Edo State, over an alleged blackmail scheme in which an Indian woman was reportedly threatened with the release of her nude video unless she paid $1,100.
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The EFCC disclosed the arrest in a statement shared on its official X account on Friday, alleging that Moses presented himself on Zelle as a person with spiritual healing powers before being contacted by the woman, who was seeking spiritual intervention for what she described as life-threatening challenges.
According to the anti-graft agency, the encounter later turned into an alleged extortion scheme after Moses persuaded the woman to undergo a naked spiritual bath as part of the purported spiritual intervention.
The EFCC said Moses recorded the session live without the woman’s permission and subsequently threatened to make the footage public unless she sent him money.
The woman reportedly paid $1,100, which the EFCC put at about N1.5m, in an attempt to prevent the alleged release of the footage.
The commission said its investigation led to Moses’ arrest in Ekpoma after tracing the alleged blackmail activity.
The case highlights the vulnerability that can arise when people seeking help for deeply personal problems place their trust in individuals who claim to possess special spiritual or healing abilities.
The EFCC alleged that Moses misrepresented himself online as having spiritual healing powers and used that representation to gain the woman’s confidence before the alleged recording and subsequent threats.
The agency said the victim had already transferred the money to Moses before his arrest.
The EFCC did not disclose the exact date of the alleged payment or the circumstances under which the woman’s contact with Moses began beyond the information contained in its statement.
The commission said Moses would be charged to court after the conclusion of its investigation.
The allegations against him have not been tested in court, and he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The arrest adds to the broader challenge posed by digital blackmail, particularly schemes involving intimate images or recordings.
Such cases can carry severe emotional and financial consequences for victims because perpetrators may exploit the fear of public exposure to demand repeated payments.
In this case, the EFCC’s account suggests that the alleged deception began with a promise of spiritual assistance before developing into a threat involving the victim’s privacy and dignity.
The commission’s investigation will now be expected to establish how the recording was made, how the payment was transferred and whether other individuals or accounts were involved in the alleged scheme.
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Moses is expected to face prosecution once the investigation is concluded, according to the EFCC.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
