CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
The police have arrested a minister with the Mountain of Fire Ministry, Oshodi District, Lagos Pastor Franklin Chinedu for allegedly defrauding a widow, Charity Onje Isaac who was paid her late husband’s gratuity.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the victim, Charity was deceived through a false prophecy and lost the N850,000 she was paid by her late husband’s employer, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
The incident happened at Biliaminu Close, Oke-Afa area of Isolo where the victim allegedly surrendered the money as requested by Chinedu.
It was gathered from the victim that Chinedu prophesied to and asked her to give him the money as he was divinely directed by God.
The Benue State-born widow obediently gave him the money but later realised that she had been duped.
However, she went back to the pastor’s house only to discover that he had moved out from the apartment to another rented three bedroom flat.
Narrating how the whole scam happened, the widow told our correspondent that she met Chinedu who told her about the death of her husband and the gratuity.
He also told the woman that serious prayer is needed to be done so that FAAN can release her husband’s money.
She said when the money was eventually released, Chinedu invited her and told her that God said she should give him the money.
Charity said she did not know what came over her as she handed the money to him.
She said she realised what happened when she had no money to feed the family, and she started looking for the pastor and then reported to the church what happened.
The matter was reported to the police at Ejigbo division who arrested Chinedu and charged to court for fraud.
Chinedu who hails from Iseke in Ideato in Imo State said he prayed for the woman and the money was paid and he borrowed the money from her but was unable to raise money to pay her back.
When Chinedu was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail.
The matter was adjourned till 26 April 2017.
