A cleric, Archbishop John Obiokeke of God’s Pentecostal Mission (GPM) has been arraigned in Lagos High Court, Ikeja in Nigeria for allegedly stealing landed property from members of his Church.
The Economic and Financial Crime commission (EFCC) slammed a nine-count charge on the cleric after investigating a petition brought against him by directors of Immortal Impex Limited, the victims of his alleged fraudulent activities.
According to the charge preferred against Archbishop Okeke, he allegedly stole a parcel of land, known as Plot “H1” along 2nd Avenue, Festac town with reference No. FHA/EST/33 dated February 18, 1993, property of Immortal Impex Limited.
As Obiokeke was brought in the dock spoting his usual black atop a black pair of trousers, he appeared shell-shocked as the court registrar reeled out his alleged crimes. EFCC counsel, Ben Obi alleged that the accused forged several documents and signatories of the directors of Immortal Impex to perpetrate the fraudulent act.
According to the prosecution, Obiokeke fraudulently converted plot “H1” allocated by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to Immortal Impex Limited with reference No. FHA/EST/33 and dated February 18, 1993 to his personal use. Besides, the prosecution alleged that the accused in order to perfect the nefarious act, forged a document entitled ‘Request for Change of Ownership” dated September 13, 2005 addressed to the general manager FHA, Abuja through the Zonal Manager FHA, Festac town, Lagos on false pretence that it was written by the two directors of Immortal Impex Limited, Ignatious Ozurumba and Augustin Agumadu.
The defendant according to EFCC forged a “Deed of Assignment” purportedly executed between Immortal Impex Limited (assignor) and Chief Ugochukwu Ezemedolu and three others trustees and representatives of Mainland Motorcycle and Spare Parts Dealers Association (Assignee) dated 2004, and prepared by Mike Enendu and Co. Both Ozurumba and Agumadu of Immortal Impex Limited were purported to have executed the deed on behalf of the company.
The prosecution alleged the defendant obtained the sum of N7 million from the trustees and representatives of Mainland Motorcycle and Spare Parts Dealers Association under false pretence that it was the cost price of the parcel of land.
The defendant in order to hoodwink his victims, allegedly impersonated Immortal Impex Limited by presenting himself as the owner of the property in a letter dated June 30, 2004, sent to the zonal manager of FHA, Festac town, Lagos in which he requested for certified true copy of the letter of allocation in respect of the parcel of land.
To perfect the fraudulent deal, the archbishop allegedly went to court and falsely deposed to an affidavit that the original allocation paper in respect of the land had been lost.
Although, the embattled cleric pleaded not guilty to the nine-count charge, he was sent to Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos as attempt to move oral application for his bail was rebuffed by the prosecutor.
culled from SUN
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