The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed reports linking Nigerian Pastor Eric Abakporo, who is also a lawyer based in New York to “despicable” fraud: the theft of the life savings of an elderly African-American woman through deceit and lies. Pastor Eric Abakporo of Deeper Life Bible church and a cohort, Latanya Pierce, were arrested for swindling the 78 year-old woman and stiffing a bank with a phony $1.8 million mortgage loan.

Pastor Abakporo was arrested on Monday in Queens, NY, while Pierce surrendered voluntarily. According to New York State Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, “Through lies and deception, these individuals abused the trust of an elderly woman in order to perpetrate a multimillion dollar fraud. Now that their despicable scheme has been exposed, they will face justice.” The story behind the current FBI charges began in March 2006 when Abakporo cultivated a relationship with the victim who owned a Harlem apartment building.

He offered to help her collect rents but actually, he pocketed them. The two men then persuaded the woman to sell her property for $3.1 million, giving her multiple fake and fraudulent checks which they later took back, promising to give her a “private mortgage” in the property. After weaving a web of lies around their actions, the two swindlers brought their act to a local bank, claiming they owned the building “free and clear”. For this lie, they obtained a $1.8 million mortgage which they failed to repay.

Ultimately they obtained all of the elderly woman’s assets and $1.8 million by defrauding the bank. Charges against the two include multiple bank and wire fraud which together carry a maximum prison term of 100 years behind bars. Abakporo is currently cooling his heels in detention until payment of a $1 million bond secured by an interest in property co-signed by three people and secured by two properties.

http://news1.ghananation.com/latest-news/253267-deeper-life-pastor-arrested-in-new-york-for-swindling-80-yr-old-1-8-million.html

Na wa o...

@ least the theft was Çarried out nt under a church facade....
D pastor is just a thief...

How's he gonna handle this

Isn't he paid salary by his church??

Pastors love money $$$$

ijawkid: Na wa o...

@ least the theft was Çarried out nt under a church facade....
D pastor is just a thief...

How's he gonna handle this

[size=15pt]Isn't he paid salary by his church??[/size]

where is oladegbu? I need clarification on this matter.

nuella2: where is oladegbu? I need clarification on this matter.

You can talk now abi? Normally it is CE pastors and members we read about engaging in frauduent activities.

It is not an isolated case. It is no accident.
In all the world there are cases of theft and fraud on the part of the "pastors". Donations stolen, fraudulent diversion of funds ... ...
But, consider this ...
Many pastors have a dark past. Many of them have previously been imprisoned, and for that reason have difficulty to reintegrate socially and work. Uan then claim "divine appearance" and solve their economic problems at the expense of the gullible.
It is an old story is repeated again and again throughout the world.
What is paradoxical is that incuse forum there are great advocates of tithing, and the activity of these social misfits ... who prefer to use their dialectic and play with the Bible and God, to work honestly.

In the article quoted, was there any allegation involving Deeper Life Bible Church as a Ministry or its GS.

You brought a story about a man who happened to be or used to be a member of Deeper Life on what went wrong in his personal business that hasn't anything to do with the Church.

Goshen360, what is judgement?
Is Deeper Life involved in this?
Did their messages encourage this in any way
Did it boost their income remember the Church discourages giving to God when your heart is not right with God or your fellow human being.
Do you think if it's true that Deeper Life will not excommunicate him.
Do you know that they preach absolute restitution no matter what.
Seeing that Deeper Life have full disciplinary measure for everybody including Kumuyi.
Do you know that usher or moderator stops Kumuyi when he preaches beyond his allotted time.

Don't ridicule the Church by attaching Deeper Life to the man's name as the reason for the crime when you know that they preach against it in its strongest terms.

^
How do you separate a DEEPER LIFE PASTOR that is still on the PULPIT from HIS OCCUPATION? HOW? Do you live here in New York? Do you know how his act alone had brought shame to the name of God? This is not about ridicule somebody or the church. Why don't you speak the truth IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO DOES EVIL?

nuella2:

where is oladegbu? I need clarification on this matter.

It is true that the man is/was a pastor in DLBC but the link posted in the OP does not show any sign of investigative report, it just shows cow boy journalism. As they say innocent until proven guilty. Why don't we wait for the verdict of the court before we start condemning the man since we don't have all the information. If he is guilty as charged then let him suffer as a thief and if not he will be vindicated but this is not an opportunity for the haters of God and his people to take cheap shots against God and his Church even the local church.

OLAADEGBU:

It is true that the man is/was a pastor in DLBC but the link posted in the OP does not show any sign of investigative report, it just shows cow boy journalism. As they say innocent until proven guilty. Why don't we wait for the verdict of the court before we start condemning the man since we don't have all the information. If he is guilty as charged then let him suffer as a thief and if not he will be vindicated but this is not an opportunity for the haters of God and his people to take cheap shots against God and his Church even the local church.

What will you not say? Huh. Listen, I live in New York and the man is a pastor in DLBC. What are you talking about? He is a pastor still preaching on the pulpit. And you are here talking about cow boy journalism. Please, let me advice you, ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO DOES EVIL. You can read different reporters here:

http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/17123/53/new-york-based-deeper-life-bible-church-pastor-and.html

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/new-york-based-deeper-life-bible-church-pastor-and-nigerian-mission-lawyer-nabbed-fbi-mult

Watch video here: http://contraculturemag.com/?p=1151

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NIgerianWorldForum/message/205947

http://www.olufamous.com/2012/05/fbi-arrests-deeper-life-pastor-for.html

Goshen360:

What will you not say? Huh. Listen, I live in New York and the man is a pastor in DLBC. What are you talking about? He is a pastor still preaching on the pulpit. And you are here talking about cow boy journalism. Please, let me advice you, ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO DOES EVIL. You can read different reporters here:

http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/17123/53/new-york-based-deeper-life-bible-church-pastor-and.html

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/new-york-based-deeper-life-bible-church-pastor-and-nigerian-mission-lawyer-nabbed-fbi-mult

Watch video here: http://contraculturemag.com/?p=1151

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NIgerianWorldForum/message/205947

http://www.olufamous.com/2012/05/fbi-arrests-deeper-life-pastor-for.html

What truth are you speaking about? Do you have all the information necessary to arrive at the truth? Instead of the sensationalist journalism you depend on to pass judgment why don't you wait until the courts convict him before you start to jump the gun. Proper investigative journalism will say that he was alleged to have swindled the old woman and if he is found guilty he should of cause suffer as a thief and be sentenced appropriately, but this is not an opportunity for you to attack the church of God because you have a score to make. Below is a report of how a crime should be reported without scoring cheap points. Note the words "alleged" and "if" in their report.

http://www.observer.com/2012/05/elderly-harlem-woman-swindled-out-of-multi-million-dollar-property/

OLAADEGBU:

What truth are you speaking about? Do you have all the information necessary to arrive at the truth? Instead of the sensationalist journalism you depend on to pass judgment why don't you wait until the courts convict him before you start to jump the gun. Proper investigative journalism will say that he was alleged to have swindled the old woman and if he is found guilty he should of cause suffer as a thief and be sentenced appropriately, but this is not an opportunity for you to attack the church of God because you have a score to make. Below is a report of how a crime should be reported without scoring cheap points. Note the words "alleged" and "if" in their report.

http://www.observer.com/2012/05/elderly-harlem-woman-swindled-out-of-multi-million-dollar-property/

Olaadegbu: Goshen360 is speaking to you with respect and providing evidence. You want to be more royalist than the king ... You live of miles of kilometers of what has happened, know the details, and the person who lives there tells you how things are ...
But you are so fanatical and blind not to recognize the truth ... His fanaticism led him to defend what is indefensible.
Why not put some common sense and logic to your life?
Stop being a fan, you will alos good nerves and cholesterol.
Grow.

@Goshen360

To be fair, going by the various reports, it was in the guy's "occupation" as a lawyer that he did this alleged fraud----- nothing to do per se with whether he is a "pastor" in whatever "church".

^
Okay. I hear you. Now that the news is all over the internet and city, how do we "separate" this man that is still a "pastor preaching on the pulpit in a particular church"? How? This is my simple point. OR Are we to say our role or model as a pastor/child of God should be different at work and another person at church? If this is the case we are making, then Christianity is in trouble.

First, I think it is important to make the distinction that he did not use his position as "pastor" in connection with this alleged fraud --- as far as we know from reports.

Second, whether a "pastor" or not, a Christian simply should not be involved in fraud. Simples.

Addendum

I do not know the position of his "church", Deeper Life, on this kind of thing; but it won't be a bad thing if he is asked to step down or "take leave" as a "pastor" ---- even if only temporarily (initially) until the matter is decided.

Enigma: Addendum

I do not know the position of his "church", Deeper Life, on this kind of thing; but it won't be a bad thing if he is asked to step down or "take leave" as a "pastor" ---- even if only temporarily (initially) until the matter is decided.

Well, it sounds good and commendable to step down, but it's not compulsory especially if it is false accusation. Imagine Jesus stepping down because of His various accusers, OR Paul the apostle when everyone was crying that he's not fit to live. ithink it's good to wait for the LAW and investigation to take full course, instead of banking on gossip stories.

Enigma: @Goshen360

To be fair, going by the various reports, it was in the guy's "occupation" as a lawyer that he did this alleged fraud----- nothing to do per se with whether he is a "pastor" in whatever "church".

You make a mistake here, as a pastor the general expectation is that you should live above board as such it generates trust. My submission is that the woman in question might not have trusted him so much if he was not a pastor. You cannot divorce the fact that he is a pastor from this transaction cos his being a pastor might have been what encouraged the woman in question to do business with him in the first instance.

Image123:
Well, it sounds good and commendable to step down, but it's not compulsory especially if it is false accusation. Imagine Jesus stepping down because of His various accusers, OR Paul the apostle when everyone was crying that he's not fit to live. ithink it's good to wait for the LAW and investigation to take full course, instead of banking on gossip stories.

When would you stop comparing Jesus with these charlatans?

Pastor Kun:

You make a mistake here, as a pastor the general expectation is that you should live above board as such it generates trust. My submission is that the woman in question might not have trusted him so much if he was not a pastor. You cannot divorce the fact that he is a pastor from this transaction cos his being a pastor might have been what encouraged the woman in question to do business with him in the first instance.

Nope, I did not make a "mistake". Maybe you need to take time to understand my post.