EFCC Re-Arraigns Three Pastors Over Alleged N7.9m Fraud

The EFCC on Monday re-arraigned three pastors for allegedly defrauding Angel Estate Residents Association in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos of N7.9 million.
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The defendants, David Eshiet, (44), Samson Ugbara, (47) and Adesanmi Aderoju, (43), were re-arraigned before Justice Kudirat Jose of an Ikeja High Court.
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They are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and uttering.
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Reports have it that the defendants were previously arraigned on March 13, 2013 before Justice Olabisi Akinlade.
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The trio had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each.
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During proceedings, the EFCC Counsel, Mr Ben Ubi, said that the re-arraignment was necessitated by Akinlade’s transfer out of the criminal division.
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Ubi asked the court to order the defendants to re-take their plea and his request was granted.
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He alleged that the defendants had conspired to fraudulently obtain four million naira and 25,000 dollars (N3.9 million) from the complainants.
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The prosecutor said that the money was obtained on Oct. 27, 2011, under the guise of helping the complainants to source a loan of 100 million dollars.
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He said the association wanted the loan to finance some community projects and that the defendants had obtained the sums as processing charges.
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Ubi also accused the defendants of forging various documents which were used in facilitating the fraud.
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According to him, after collecting the money, the defendants failed to secure the loan as promised, which led the complainants to petition the EFCC.
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He said that offences contravened Section 1, (sub-sections 1,2,3) and Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
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Ubi said they also contravened Sections 363 and 364 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
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Reports have it that the offence of obtaining money by false pretences attracts between seven and 20 years imprisonment, if an accused is found guilty.
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All the defendants, again, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Following the re-arraignment, their Counsel, Mr F.O. Udokporoh, urged the court to allow them to enjoy the bail earlier granted to them by the former judge.
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The judge acceded to his request and adjourned the matter till May 19 for trial.