Pastor, Wife Remanded in Prison Custody over N40 million Fraud
A Lagos State Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba has ordered the remand in prison of a couple pastor of KPICPC, Azuka and Mary Ohez over about N40m fraud allegations.
Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun gave the remand order following their arraignment by the Nigeria Police.
“Daddy & Mummy GO” of Kingdom Power International Christian Praying Centre, KPICPC, were brought to court on a two-count charge.
They were arraigned behind a closed door in the chamber of the Magistrate.
According to the charge information, the couple pastor and others now at large, on 13th of July, 2023, at Oba Ayoka Street Lagos, did conspire among themselves to commit felony to wit; stealing and receiving proceeds of crime, property of Climax Lubricants Industries Lagos, and thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
And the second count charge: the couple and others now at large, at Kingdom Power International Christian Praying Centre Ishashi Lagos, in Lagos, did knowingly receive the total sum of Thirty-Three Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Nine Thousand, Thirty Naira (N33,829,30) through your Fidelity Bank KPICPC account numbers 2033723459 and 5600923549 from one Chijioke Ezekirian ‘m’ being proceeds of sales, property of Climax Lubricants Industries Lagos and thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 328(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
The couple however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Subsequently, their counsel, A. J. Alagbu urged the court to grant them bail in liberal terms.
The police prosecutor, Bello Umar, who did not oppose the request, urged the court to make the condition such that they would not jump bail.
In her ruling, Magistrate Olatubosun granted the couple bail in the sum of N10m each with two sureties and a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
She also ordered that the Registrar must verify the address of the sureties.
The matter was adjourned till May 13 for trial
