Living Faith Church Staff Arraigned For N38m Fraud

Eniola Olayemi

Police in Ogun, on Wednesday arraigned two staff members of the Living Faith Church,Canaanland in Ota, Afolabi Samuel, 46, and Blessing Kolawole, 39, in an Ota Magistrates ‘ Court in Ogun for allegedly stealing N38 million.

The police charged Samuel and Kolawole, whose addresses were not given with two counts of conspiracy and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Abdulkareem Mustapha, told the court that the accused persons committed the offence between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, 2018, at about 10 a.m.  at the Living Faith Church, Canaanland, Ota.

Mustapha alleged that the accused persons conspired and stole N38 million belonging to the church.

He said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 390(2)(6)(8b) (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

After the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate Mathew Akinyemi, admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N2 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

Akinyemi ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to Ogun Government.

He adjourned the case until Feb. 20 for further hearing.