A man, who allegedly claimed to be a General Overseer of a popular church in Lagos, has been arrested for defrauding church members of N5 million.
The man, MacDonald Iwara, was on Thursday arraigned before a Chief Magistrates Court in Yaba, Lagos by the state Police Command.
Iwara, 33 years of age, however pleaded not guilty when his alleged crime was read out to him.
The prosecution counsel, ASP Stephen Molo, had told the court that Iwara committed the offence between 2017 and 2020 at Ikota road, Lagos.
According to him, the defendant perpetrated the alleged crime by presenting himself to be the GO of Our Daily Manna church, Chris Kwakpovwe.
Noting that the defendant defrauded the church members by collecting huge amounts of money in the form of tithes and offerings from them, Molo added:
“He even went as far as creating a fake account in the name of Kwakpovwe and members paid their tithes and offerings into the account.”
He argued that the alleged offence contravened the provisions of sections 314, 78, 168 (d) and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state, 2015 (Revised).
In his judgement, the Chief Magistrate, Adeola Adedayo granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till March 2, for mention.