EFCC Arraigns Three Pastors For $25,000 Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  on Monday March 18, 2013 arraigned Pastor David Nnanso Eshiet, Pastor Samson Okemona Ugbara, Pastor Adesanmi Richard Aderoju and Prince and Zion International Services Limited before Justice Adebisi Akinlade of the Lagos High Court on a seven count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money under false pretense; issuance of dishonored cheques and forgery contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006.

They were alleged to have obtained the sum of $25,000 (Twenty-Five Thousand United States Dollars) from Angel Estate Residents Development Association, Ojo, Lagos as processing fees for sourcing foreign loan for them to purchase an expanse of land at Nkwelle Ezumaka Estate in Anambra state.

One of the charges reads:  “that you Pastor David Nnanso Eshiet, Pastor Samson Okemona Ugbara and Pastor Adesanmi Richard Aderoju and Prince and Zion International Service Limited on or about 27 October, 2011, at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judiciary Division with intent to defraud obtained the sum of $25,000 (Twenty Five Thousand United States of America Dollars only) from Angel Estate Resident Development Association of D10/58 ASPAMDA Trade Fair Complex, Ojo Lagos by falsely representing that it is part payment of the cost of processing $100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million United States of America Dollars) foreign loan you had sourced for them for the purchase of an expanse of land  at Nkwelle Ezumaka Estate, Oyi Local Government, Area of Anambra State, which representation you knew to be false."

Another charge reads: "that you Pastor David Nnanso Eshiet, Pastor Samson Okemona Ugbara, Pastor Adesanmi Richard Aderoju and Prince and Zion International Service Ltd on or about 28th February, 2012, at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud forged Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation sales contracts papers titled “sales & purchase contract agreement CIF Crude Oil with the aim of facilitating your obtaining money from the public".

When the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty.

Prosecution counsel, Ben Ubi asked for trial date and prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody. But counsel to the defendants, F.O Udokporoh, however urged the court to admit his clients to bail. 

Justice Adebisi fixed March 27, 2013 for hearing of the bail applications and May 22, 2013 for trial.

She ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kirikiri maximum prison.

Source: Sahara Reporters