The Ondo State Police Command has arraigned a 33-year old self-acclaimed missionary, Joshua Jayeola, before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure, for alleged rape, fraud and sexual exploitation of young women under the guise of job recruitment and social-media content creation.
Jayeola was also accused of defrauding several victims of a total sum of ₦4.5 million, allegedly collected under the pretext of procuring visas and international passports.
His arrest followed a police operation in which 15 young women, aged between 20 and 26, were rescued from an apartment in Alagbaka, Akure, where they were reportedly being held for illicit activities. Two other suspects were arrested alongside the accused.
According to police investigations, the syndicate lured victims from across Nigeria with false promises of lucrative jobs, including domestic work, ushering service and overseas employment opportunities.
Jayeola was arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on rape, fraud and sexual exploitation.
Police prosecutor, Sulaiman Adebayo, told the court that the offences were committed in July 2025 at Victory Lane, Alagbaka Extension, Akure.
The prosecutor alleged that the defendant impersonated a missionary and unlawfully detained 15 young women against their will in a rented apartment.
Adebayo further alleged that the defendant raped two of the victims and fraudulently obtained ₦4.5 million from others under the false promise of securing international passports and visas.
He was also accused of managing a property used for habitual prostitution and benefiting from proceeds of the illegal activities.
The offences, according to the charge sheet, violate Sections 358, 225B (a & b), 112 (1 & 2), and 484 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ondo State (2006), as well as Section 1(c) and are punishable under Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2006).
The defendant’s plea was not taken.
The prosecutor requested that Jayeola be remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
However, defence counsel C.O. Falana, sought an adjournment to file a counter-affidavit to the prosecution’s application.
Magistrate Damilola Sekoni, ordered that the defendant remain in police custody till November 19, to enable his counsel have access to him, after which he is to be transferred to the correctional centre.
The case was adjourned to November 26, 2025, for hearing of the application.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
