The Special Fraud Unit of Nigeria Police Force has arraigned a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Felix Fadare, before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court for his alleged involvement in N30m fraud.
Fadare, who pastors the RCCG’s Fullers Field parish in Ajah, was arrested by the police for allegedly conniving with one Adeola Ajidahun and others at large to defraud one Kehinde Ola of N30m under false pretences of selling two plots of land to him in the Lekki Pennisula Re-settlement Scheme in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State.
Our correspondent learnt that Ajidahun who had been previously arraigned in the court on the same charge had presented the pastor to Ola as his agent. The complainant was said to have paid N30m to 86-year-old Ajidahun after he showed him some documents indicating that he acquired the land from the state government.
Trouble started when a family in the area challenged Ola’s ownership of the land. He was said to have petitioned the police, leading to the arrests of the suspects.
Earlier, the octogenarian had been arraigned and granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Fadare was arraigned on three counts bordering on fraud before a presiding magistrate, Mrs. A. O. Awogboro.
The charges read in part, “That you, Felix Fadare, and others at large, between December 1 and 13, 2013, at Mega Chicken Restaurant, Ikota Ajah, Lagos, within the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit: obtaining money under the false pretences and stealing, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
“That you and others at large, on the aforesaid date, place and magisterial district with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N30m from one Kehinde Ola under false pretences that you were selling him two plots of land in the Lekki Pennisula Re-settlement Schemes, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, a representation you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 312 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”
Fadare, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and elected summary trial.
Awogboro, the presiding magistrate, admitted him to bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate added that the sureties must provide evidence of three years tax payments and present their residential addresses to the court for verification.
Awogboro directed that the pastor should be remanded in the Ikoyi Prison pending when he would be able to perfect his bail conditions.
The case was adjourned till February 3, 2016, for mention.
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