The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has nabbed five herbalists for allegedly defrauding one of their victims of N26,550,000, and being in possession of fake $3.4 million, €280,000 notes.

The EFCC,  in a statement on Wednesday, said its Ibadan Zonal Directorate nabbed the herbalists who engage in defrauding victims of their monies in exchange for providing fake spiritual cleansing and solutions to ailments.

The anti-graft agency said, “Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have uncovered huge counterfeit foreign notes to the tune of $3,430, 000 (Three Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars) and €280, 000 (Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand Euros) in possession of a five-member syndicate arrested for allegedly swindling one Halima Sanni the sum of  N26, 550, 000 (Twenty-Six Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).”

According to the commission, the herbalists, Akingbola Omotayo, Adeola Funsho Ogunrinde, Yahaya Amodu, Kubratu Babalola Olaitan and Familola Sunday Olaitan, were nabbed on December 7 and 8, 2025, at their shrines in Osun and Lagos states, following a thorough surveillance and intelligence on their fraudulent activities.

According to the statement, investigation revealed that the suspects were allegedly defrauding unsuspecting individuals of their legitimate earnings under the pretence of providing spiritual cleansing and solutions to different ailments.

“They also allegedly assured their victims of their powers to conjure several currency notes which must be cleaned up by a genie through spiritual sacrifice before spending the money. They did all these by hypnotizing their victims to provide money for the sacrifice,” the statement added. 

Stating that two exotic cars and mobile phones were recovered from the nabbed herbalists, the EFCC said the suspects will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.