Mali arrests Marabou who took 22m Franc assured team victory at AFCON finals but failed
By Omolade Adegbuyi
Authorities in Mali have arrested a soothsayer who assued Mali would win the African Cup of Nations but the country was defeated ahead of the finals on Friday.
The self-proclaimed marabout is facing fraud charges in Bamako, the capital of Mali.
He was said to have collected over €33,500 (22 million CFA francs) with a promise to use his spiritual power to secure victory for Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
But Mali’s national team was eliminated from the tournament with a 1-0 quarter-final loss to Senegal.
The marabou has been identified as one Mr. Sinayogo.
Sources told Irohinodua that he was a former a former political activist who later changed his trade becoming a marabou.He was said to have duped many people at home and abroad.
Mr. Sinayogo had asked for the money with a promise that Mali would defeat all opponents.
When the prediction failed on Friday after the 1:0 loss, angry crowd beseiged his private home.
He called the police which came to rescue him.
The cybercrime division of the police took him to custody. He was later charged for fraud in Bamako, the country’s capital.
An official said that “Charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali”.
