A Redeemed Christian Church of God pastor in charge of Chapel of Triumph Parish, Oworoshoki, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for allegedly obtaining N5.1m under false pretence.
The accused, Oderinde Oluwatosin, 50, was arrested by the operatives of the Special Fraud Unit, SFU, Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
After investigation, he was charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a four-count charge of stealing.
The police prosecutor, Supol Olakanmi Omisope, told the court in charge No E|32|2014 that the accused committed the offence between January and October, 2013 in Lagos.
He said the accused collected the sum of N4.5m from Azumara Egonnaya and N900,000 from Emeng Igbang to invest in oil business, with a promise to pay them back.
Omisope alleged that after the complainants gave the pastor the money on trust, he refused to pay them back, adding that when all efforts by the complainants to retrieve the money from the accused proved abortive, they reported the matter to the police.
Omisope said the offences the accused committed are punishable under sections 409,312(3) and 278(1)(a)(b)(2)
of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs F.O. Aigbokhaevbo admitted him on bail in the sum of N200,000 with two surties in like sum.
Aigbokhaevbo adjourned the matter till 31 October, 2014 for mention, while the defendant was taken to Ikoyi Prison, Lagos pending when he will fulfil the bail conditions.
