Pastor Allegedly Swindles Church Member Millions of Naira
A self acclaimed pastor, and founder Jesus the General Outreach Ministry based in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, ThankGod Udechukwu has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Office.
Udechukwu who hails from Ozalla, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State and had taken advantage of one of his kinsmen who trusted him as a ‘Man of God’, was arrested on Wednesday May 23,2018
“I am his pastor and man of God, in fact, I used to pray for him to succeed and indeed, I prayed for him before he travelled out to Dubai.” He boasted.
Apparently with this ‘Messiah’ mindset, the self-styled minister of God set out to rip-off his victim using lies, half-truths and manipulations.
According to the victim and complainant who resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, his traumatic ordeals in the hands of Udechukwu started with a suggestion that he hands over four Highlander SUVs he imported to him, claiming that one of his church members was willing to buy the vehicles and other consignments imported with them all of which amounted to N16.000,000 (Sixteen Million Naira only)
After waiting for a while for the remittance of the monies realized from the sale, the Pastor having taken a huge sum from the total amount realized claiming they were for logistic purposes, muted the idea of starting a transport services business and suggested buying two Sienna buses. As if, under a spell, the complainant still agreed to the business idea.
Again, with nothing coming out of the transport business, the complainant said he was no more interested in the venture and instructed the suspect to sell off the two buses. Udechukwu sold one of the buses and converted the proceed to his personal use.
Some months after, the pastor further suggested a business to the complainant and introduced him to one Amechi Chuks Amechi who claimed to work with Nigeria Breweries and that he could assist in securing a dealership from the company. He claimed the deal will cost the complainant the sum of N2,370,000.00 (Two Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira only) which he transferred to Amechi company’s account in the name of Royal Homes Furniture Company Limited at First Bank Plc.
The petitioner who had hoped to use part of the proceeds from his investments to start some businesses here in Nigeria was totally devastated when on coming home, discovered to his chagrin that nothing was left as the pastor and his friend had diverted most of the monies realized to their personal use.
Investigation revealed that he used the monies in all the businesses to expand his church buildings and take care of personal issues.
The case will be charged to court soon.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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EFCC Docks NIMG Director, Procurement Officer Over N70m Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 28, 2018 arraigned the duo of Engineer Umar Saidu Bamali and Adeniyi Adeosun before Justice Daniel Longji of the State High Court sitting Jos, Plateau State, on a 6-count charge of conspiracy, misappropriation of funds and criminal breach of trust.
Trouble started for Bamali, a former Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Institute of Mining and Geosciences, NIMG, and Adeosun, the Procurement Officer, when a staff of NIMG petitioned the EFCC on how the defendants allegedly converted to their personal use, millions of naira belonging to NIMG.
Investigations into the matter revealed that the defendants diverted over N70million, money meant for allowances of staff of NIMG and contracts of printing of security and non security documents.
Specifically, Bamali, in 2015 allegedly misappropriated the sum of N32million belonging to the Institute, a sum he claimed was used as allowances for staff, while nobody was promoted that year.
He was also said to have converted to personal use, over N17million belonging to NIMG, a sum realized by the Institute from the training conducted for Kano Youths, through the State Government.
Adeosun, in his own case was said to have received over N8million as kickbacks to compromise his official duties.
One of the counts reads;
“That you, Engr. Umar Saidu Bamali, ‘M’, being the Director/Chief Executive Officer Nigeria Institute of Mining and Geosciences (NIMG) on or about 2015 in Jos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N32,000,000 (Thirty Two Million Naira) property of Nigeria Institute of Mining and Geosciences (NIMG) purportedly used as allowances for staff of the Institute while nobody was promoted in the year 2015, the said sum domiciled in NIMG Personal Cost A/C No. 1230100150406901 (1232021028) at the Ecobank Nigeria Ltd. FG/North (Jos) Branch and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State”.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In view of their pleas, Steve Odiase, counsel to the EFCC, prayed the court for a trial date to enable the prosecution presents its witnesses.
However, Paul Golu and T. J. Danjuma representing Bamali and Adeosun respectively informed the court of pending bail applications separately filed on behalf of their clients. The counsel urged the court to admit the defendants to bail.
Odiase opposed the applications informing the court that “I was served this morning and I need time to go through them and respond”.
Justice Longji, thereafter, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of the bail applications on June 1, 2018.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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EFCC Arrests Two Suspected Fraudsters For N7m Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, has arrested two members of a syndicate of fraudsters for offences bordering on obtaining money under false pretences to the tune of over N7, 000, 000.00( Seven Million Naira).
The suspects were arrested at Elomaz Hotel, Maryland, Lagos, following a petition received by the Commission from a complainant.
The complainant alleged that he was approached by one Dr. Lawal Ibrahim, who claimed to be the representative of an American company, Avis Beverages, in Africa for a purported agro-allied business.
He also alleged that he was subsequently introduced to one Dr. Ryan Wood, the purported company’s President, and Alhaji Akeem Olagbaju Jamiu, who also posed as the producer of the commodity.
The complainant further alleged that he was asked to register with the commodity producer with N150, 000.00 and also make a refundable deposit of N350, 000.00
As part of the grand plan to validate their claim, the complainant alleged that he was asked to register a company and acquire necessary documentations, including certificate of ownership, tax certificate, BNI, NAFDAC, Narcotics Control Board and money laundering clearance certificates in furtherance of the business.
The fraudsters were alleged to have also instructed the complainant to register with Avis Beverages with $65,000.00USD once it was clear that he could obtain all the necessary documents.
However, the complainant, through a petition, sought the intervention of the Commission when he became suspicious of the transaction, a development that eventually led to the arrest of the suspected fraudsters.
The suspects will soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
