A 26-year-old man, Moses Olaitan, allegedly impersonated a traditional ruler and defrauded a woman of N51 million.

Mr Olaitan, a barber, appeared in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The police charged him with impersonation, stealing, obtaining by false pretences and threat to life.

The prosecution counsel, ASP Raji Akeem, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on July 17, 2020, in Ojokoro area of Lagos.

Mr Akeem alleged that the defendant, and some others at large, collected N51 million from Joy Okoro, to prepare a concoction for ‘ritual cleansing’ so that she can become a queen.

Mr Akeem added that the defendant pretended to be Oba Elegunshi on a social media platform, professed love to the complainant and asked her to come to Nigeria from London where she stays.

“The defendant told her that she would undergo a ritual cleansing before she can come to the palace and be a queen and linked her up with some others at large.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 56, 287, 314, 380 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The chief magistrate O. I. Adelaja admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N51 million with two sureties in like sum.

Mr Adelaja adjourned the case until July 5 for a mention.