Police in Ekiti State have arraigned a Pastor, Noah Abraham Adelegan of Christ High Commission Ministry, Omuo Oke-Ekiti, before a magistrate’s court in Ado-Ekiti for fraud.
Pastor Abraham had allegedly told members of his church recently that he was capable of taking them to heaven, claiming that the gate of heaven where rapture would commence was in Omuo-Ekiti but each member must pay a fee of N310,000 to enable them to ascend to heaven from his church located in the town.
The charge brought against the pastor partly read: “That you Pastor Noah Abraham Adelegan on 27th April, at Omuo Oke-Ekiti in Omuo Magisterial District, did by false pretence and intent to defraud, presented yourself to your congregation at Christ High Commission Ministry, Omuo, Oke-Ekiti, as capable of taking them to heaven before rapture upon payment of money ranging from N300,000 to N310,000 each.”
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, the offence committed by the pastor contravened Section 416 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2012.
But the defendant’s counsel, Adunni Olanipekun, urged the court to grant his client bail.
Olanipekun said that the pastor was ready to provide reliable sureties.
The police prosecutor, however, did not oppose the bail application but asked the court to use its discretion to either grant or refuse the bail.
The presiding Magistrate, Titilola Olaolorun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The court then adjourned the matter to May 24, 2022.