Pastor Obinna Obi Charged To Court Over Fraud

 The police in Lagos on Wednesday arraigned a 46-year old pastor, Obinna Obi, over an alleged fraud of N820,000.

Obi, who resides at 4, Ogunseye Street, Idimu, Lagos, appeared before an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on a two-count charge of conspiracy and fraud.

Prosecutor Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 12, 2012, at 1, Omoguwa Street, Oshodi, Lagos.

He said that the accused and one other at large conspired and obtained the said amount from Delight Onyekachi, 32, a merchandiser, under the pretence of being a pastor.

“The accused approached the complainant and told her that God has revealed her problem to him and has sent him to save her life. “He narrated all the problems the complainant was encountering and told her that God told him to ask her to withdraw all money in her bank and give it to him to buy all the necessary items he will use to deliver her from her problems.

“The complainant was convinced because she was actually going through those challenges and she yielded to the accused instruction and withdraw the money for him.

“After the accused collected the money, he disappeared and all efforts made to trace or retrieve the money proved abortive,” he said.

Olatunde said that the accused made a confessional statement to the police that it was Ejike Lambert now at large, who attends the same church with the complainant who gave him the information about the complainant. “When he confessed, he said that Lambert approached him and revealed to him the complainant’s predicament and told him that they should dupe her,” he said.

Olatunde said the offence contravened the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The magistrate, Mr. Akeem Fashola, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50,000 with one surety.

Fashola ordered that the surety must present evidence of income tax payment to the Lagos State Government in the last three year and adjourned the case to February 28, for mention.

Source: PMNews