A Federal High Court sitting at Asaba, Delta State, southsouth Nigeria, has ordered that self-acclaimed Pastor, Glory Okeoghene Abrefera, alleged to have swindled 492 unsuspecting members of the public to the tune of N1.2 billion should be remanded in prison custody.

Also to be remanded in prison custody alongside the accused pastor is one of his accomplices, Reverend Vincent Okpogo. The wife of the pastor involved in the scam is currently at large. Pastor Abrefera owns a wonder bank called Mustard Seed Micro Investment Limited, while his co-accused Reverend Vincent Okpogo is the managing director of the bank. The bank has branches around Asaba-Port Harcourt axis with customers virtually in all towns and villages in Delta State.

The accused pastor allegedly lured unsuspecting members of the public by giving them mouth watering interest on their investment. This generous deceptive interest made customers make huge deposits tagged investment. But it got to a stage the company failed to pay interest and depositors’ money was not also refunded. By the time the depositors realised that they had been duped, Pastor Abrefera fled to Lagos and hid somewhere at Ajah.

He was later arrested by EFCC operatives after some of the aggrieved depositors petitioned the anti graft-agency and traced him to his hideout in Lagos. Between June 2006 and January 2009 the accused wonder bank President and his accomplices had swindled at least 492 people. The accused are facing multiple charges of conspiracy, stealing, fraudulent conversion and operating banking services illegally at Asaba and Effunrun, while Port Harcourt charges are being prepared.

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