Pastor arraigned for stealing $90,000, N4.5m from Winners Chapel

A Pastor, Afolabi Samuel, on Monday, was arraigned before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos for allegedly stealing the sum of $90, 000 and N4.5million property of the Registered Trustees of the Living Faith Church, Cannanland, Ota, Ogun State.

Pastor Samuel, an accountant and member of the church, was docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.

The EFCC prosecutor, S. O. Daji, said that the defendant, who worked as the treasurer of church, the committed the alleged offences sometime in September 24 and December 31, 2018, in Lagos.

Daji told the court that the offences contravened Sections 278, 285 and 490 of the Criminal law of Lagos State No. 11, 2011.

The EFCC alleged that Samuel and one Mrs. Blessing Kolawole, a staff of the Covenant University (now at large), conspired and dishonesty stole money and property of the Registered Trustees of the Living Faith Church.

The pastor and Mrs. Kolawole were accused of dishonestly converting the sum of $90, 000 and N4.5 million to their own personal use.

However, according to a petition to EFCC dated June 26, 2019 and signed by Chioma Okwuanyi & Co Legal Practitioners, Pastor Samuel was employed in the Accounts Department of the church to maintain proper records of funds.

The firm, acting as Solicitors to the Registered Trustees of the Living Faith Church, said that both Pastor Samuel and Mrs. Kolawole connived with other criminals and started taking criminal advantage of their positions as the Church’s Treasurer and a staff of the university respectively.