A Special Offences Court siting in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a pastor to seven years in prison for N59.7m fraud...

A Justice of the Special Offences Court siting in Ikeja, Lagos has convicted and sentenced a pastor of an Evangelical Ministry to seven years in prison for N59.7m fraud.

The pastor was first arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on November 5, 2018 on 11-count charges , to which he pleaded "not guilty".

He was subsequently re-arraigned on June 16, 2022 on an amended seven-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N59.7million.

One of the witnesses, a male victim had in his testimony, alleged that he was introduced to the defendant sometime in 2015 when he was seeking a solution to his "spiritual problem".

The victim claimed that the pastor lured him to part with N59,760,000 under the guise that he would use same to purchase a property located at Diamond Estate, Festac Town, with the assurance that they would resell it to a Chinese company at the cost of N150million.

The defendant, however, reneged on his promise, thereby prompting the complainant to petition the EFCC.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, the court Justice found him guilty on seven counts of fraud and stealing and sentenced him to seven years in prison for the N59.7million fraud.

The trial judge also ordered the forfeiture of his property and his Sports Utility Vehicle to the Federal Government as a restitution to settle the complainant...
Source: EFCC Press Release..