[size=14pt]Nigeria: N10 Million Fraud - Lagos Court Orders Arrest of Prophet[/size]
Ebele Akpeh
13 January 2010

A Lagos High Court, Ikeja presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada, yesterday ordered the police to arrest and bring to court popular television evangelist, Prophet Israel Ola-Ogundipe of Celestial Church of Christ over alleged N10 million fraud.

Also, the court adjourned till February 3 for possible arraignment of the prophet and ordered that the prosecution team led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbesan, to issue a reminder of the bench warrant to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo

Sequel to the adjournment, at the resumed hearing of the case, the defendant's counsel, Mr. Olusegun Raji told the court that his client was still with the police at the X-squad, Alagbon.

But when the court asked the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Ogungbesan what happened to the bench warrant that was issued against the defendant at the last adjourned date, Ogungbesan informed the court that she was surprised that the defence counsel said the prophet was still with the police when they have forwarded a copy of the bench warrant to the Commissioner of Police.

Ogungbesan told the court that they have since served a copy of the bench warrant to the Akpoyibo since December 29, 2009.

Ola-Ogundipe was arrested by the police over an alleged N10 million fraud and his arraignment had been fixed before the court yesterday. He, however, was absent to take his plea and the court has issued a bench warrant against him.

Ola-Ogundipe was charged to court by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice for allegedly duping a woman identified as Olaide Williams-Oni on the pretence of using the money for religious purposes.

The prophet was charged with alleged stealing, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.

The offences are contrary to Section 390, Section 419 and Section 467 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos state.

"On or about the 5th of November 2002 at 7/11, Duro Ishola Street, Alakuko, Lagos in the Ikeja Judicial Division stole the sum of £12,000 (about N10 million) from one Mrs. Olaide Williams- Oni," the suspect's charge read in part.

The charge sheet also alleged that between June and December 2007 the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N8, 500, 000 from the same Williams-Oni and also forging a Nigerian international passport with the name - Sanyaolu Babatunde Solomon, Passport No. A2799555

Theh prophet's arraignment had earlier been fixed for December last year but had to be postponed when he appeared in court without any legal representation. Also, when the matter came up before the court on the next adjourned date, he was absent and his lawyer, Mr. Kuye told the court that the prophet had been re-arrested by the police.

http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/201001130344.html

. . .One day for the owner of the house!
"Prophet" my foot!