Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court will on June 16 deliver judgement in an alleged N59.7 million fraud case filed against a Lagos-based prophet, Cletus Ilongwo.
Longwood, a Pastor of the Power of the Holy Ghost Evangelical Ministry, was arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 11-count charge of fraud and stealing.
The anti-graft agency specifically accused the defendant of allegedly defrauding a former member of his congregation, Obinna Ezenwaka of N59.7 million.
The EFCC had also alleged that the defendant received the said amount from Ezenwaka on different occasions in 2016 on the pretext of helping him to purchase a property located at 165c Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
The Commission further claimed that the defendant collected the sum in tranches through his Zenith Bank account 1003455899.
The charges read in part, “That you, Cletus Ilongwo, on January 29, 2016, at Lagos, within the Ikeja Juridical Division, dishonestly converted for your use the sum of N10m, being money received through your Zenith Bank account number 1003495899 from Obinna Ezenwaka meant for the purchase of the property situated at No 165c, Block 12, Diamond Estate, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.”
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resume hearing of the matter, the defence counsel, Titilayo Akinlawon (SAN), informed the court that the former EFCC counsel, Nkereuwem Anana, who has been transferred to Uyo, filed an amended charge to which she had also filed a notice of preliminary objection.
Akinlawon, however, pointed out that the record of the court is clear on the business of the court, stating the court adjourned specifically for judgement today.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Solebo adjourned the matter to June 16 for judgement.
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