A Nigerian pastor has gotten himself into serious trouble after allegedly defrauding people of a lot of money.
Illustrative photo
A pastor in an undisclosed church, identified as Mr Samuel
Omowunmi, was on Friday arraigned before Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya of
FCT High Court Kubwa, Abuja for alleged N26million fraud.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Omowunmi, who was arraigned
by the EFCC in an amended charge of alleged fraud, pleaded not guilty
to the charge.
Omowunmi was charged for allegedly collecting money from a company,
Rafuya Nigeria Limited, under the pretence to obtain plots of land
within the FCT.
The defendant was first arraigned in December 2016 for allegedly
obtaining N16 million from one Faith Abdullahi for the same purpose.
Justice Ogbonnaya granted his continuation of bail following an
oral application made by the defence Counsel, Mr Adewale Adenoja, which
was not objected to by the prosecuting counsel.
Ogbonnaya, however, adjourned the matter until Feb.27, for continuation of trial.
Earlier, Mr Fred Emiefili, a witness, led in evidence by the
prosecuting counsel, Mrs Yetunde Alabi, told the court that the
defendant had assured the company of acquiring the land but failed.
“He assured the Managing Director and I then, in 2012, when I
was also the General Manager of the company, that he had the power and
influence to get the job done.
“He even said that he could get the job done with or without
the papers because he was very close to the then minister of the FCT.
“At first there was a written agreement with the sum of N10 million of which N3 million was given to him.
“But when he couldn’t deliver that one, he came back with assurances that he could get us another one if we can meet his cost.
“He said he knew highly placed persons and because of that, we availed him of all his requests without making another agreement.
“This was because of subsequent telephone conversations between him and the MD of the company, ” Emiefili said.
The defense counsel, cross examined the witness before the adjournment.
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