The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a self-acclaimed spiritualist, Odigie Moses, over alleged sextortion involving $1,100.

The anti-graft agency disclosed on Friday that the suspect was arrested in Ekpoma, Edo State.

According to the EFCC, Moses allegedly posed as a spiritual healer on Zelle and convinced an Indian woman seeking spiritual intervention for what were described as life-threatening challenges to take part in a naked spiritual bath.

The commission alleged that the suspect recorded the session without the woman’s consent and later threatened to release the video unless she paid him.

“The suspect, who misrepresented himself on Zelle, a social media platform, as possessing spiritual healing powers, was contacted by his victim, an Indian woman, who was in need of spiritual intervention on some life-threatening challenges,” the EFCC said.

It added, “The suspect subsequently deceived her into taking a naked spiritual bath, which he recorded live without her permission, and thereafter blackmailed her to send him money, else he would make the video public.”

The commission said its investigation showed that the victim paid the suspect $1,100 to prevent the alleged release of the recording.

“Investigation by the EFCC revealed that the victim had to pay the sum of $1,100 to the suspect in order to prevail on him not to release her nudity to the public,” the statement added.

The EFCC said the suspect would be “charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.” (The PUNCH, but headline reworked)