Witness alleges Bishop Obembe attempted to defraud partners of N1. 4 billion

A WITNESS, Pastor Julius Sajuyigbe yesterday testified to Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that the presiding bishop of El-Shaddai Bible Church, Dolphin Estate, Bishop Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe attempted to allegedly defraud other partners in a $9 million business deal.

While led in evidence by counsel to the defendant, Mr. Nojim Tairu, Pastor Sajuyigbe stressed that the discovery of the attempted fraud led to the break-up of the relationship in a seven-count charge of bordering on forgery and uttering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Dr. Oluremi Oladipo Folorunsho.

Folorunso, an accountant and a businessman pleaded not guilty to the charges of forgery and uttering the letter head papers of El-Shaddai Petroleum Limited (a company chaired by Bishop Obembe), by changing both its office address and the character of the letter head papers. He was also alleged to have forged the signature of a former business associate, Ms. Helyn Aninye.

Sajuyigbe in his testimony said, the journey stated in late 2006 when a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between himself, Bishop Obembe, Pastor Benedict Olagunju for the purpose of prospecting for oil bloc, adding that he was the one that engineered the coming together of all the partners.

He continued that since only oil company could approach Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for the purpose of oil prospecting, the partners had to settle for El-Shaddai Petroleum Limited, as the time was short to embark on the registration of new company.

He further told the court that the membership of the group was later increased to five with the admission of Mrs. Aninye and that meetings were held at Dolphin Estate home of Dr. Obembe as well as Aret Adams House office of Dr. Folorunsho simultaneously.

He said he was the one that introduced everyone in the team and that the team decided to make Bishop Obembe the chairman, as he appeared to be their senior spiritually.

He also confirmed that Power of Attorney was issued to Dr. Folorunsho by the partners being the only businessman amongst them.

According to him, “the bidding was coming up in early 2007, so, Bishop Obembe volunteered his El-Shaddai Petroleum Company because we have to bid with a registered oil company. We agreed that Bishop Obembe retain the chairmanship of the company. Dr. Folorunsho was to serve as the Chief Executive Officer while Helyn Aninye who later joined us was to serve as company secretary and legal adviser. I served as finance director while Pastor Olagunju was not given any special function but he was to serve as liaison for us abroad because he is based outside d country.”

He further told the court that Bishop Obembe tried to hoodwink other partners when he told them that $1 million was to be paid to them by IGI as signature bonus.

“We were told that out of the money, we will also pay tithe to his church. But we later discovered that the actual money was $10 million and not $1 million as he told us.”

Earlier, Dr. Folorunsho in his testimony told the court that following the pulling out of H-Oil, IGI was later introduced by Bishop Obembe to the business partners. Asked why Form C07 (which would have changed the ownership structure of the company) was not filed before Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) despite having been signed,

Dr. Folorunsho told the court that the business partners decided against filing it because the issue of integrity had crept into the business relationship amongst the partners.

He noted that what later led to the break-up of the relationship was the discovery by Mrs. Aninye of an attempt to defraud the other partners by Bishop Obembe through the signature bonus to be paid by IGI.

While giving the figure as $10 million, he said the bishop only disclosed $1 million to the partners. This he said led to the break-up of the relationship.

He said when Bishop Obembe was confronted with the allegation; he simply said ‘it was a mistake of the mind and not of the body’.

Also giving her evidence earlier, Dr. Folorunsho’s office secretary, Olawuyi Bunmi, told the court that she actually signed the contentious letterhead on behalf of Mrs. Aninye on instruction from her principal. She denied allegation of attempting to stimulate the signature of Mrs. Aninye who had earlier given evidence in the suit. She said aside signing her regular signature; she also added ‘for’ before her signature indicating that she was signing on behalf of someone else.

Justice Okunnu therefore, adjourned further hearing of final written address till January 29, 2014.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php/news/national-news/138466-witness-alleges-bishop-obembe-attempted-to-defraud-partners-of-n1-4-billion

This is serious case. Can't wait to see how the whole thing unfolds.


*Grabs my popcorn and watching*