Security agencies have arrested a Church Minister of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles, Mr. Frank Chinedu for allegedly duping a widow of his husband’s gratuity.
The victim of the swindle, Mrs Charity Onye Isaac was cajoled by the church minister, by “spiritual auction”’, to part with the money. This resulted to her losing a whooping sum of N850,000 paid to her by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, her late husband’s employer; at his demise.
Charity explained, that Chinedu said he was divinely authorized to collect the money from her, in effect, she handed him the money without any form of inquiry; but later discovered that he was a fraudster and she had been scammed.
Upon gathering that it was a scam, Charity went back to the Pastor’s apartment; only to discover that he had packed away from there. The Widow explained that she met Chinedu who told her about the death of her husband and the gratuity.
She explained that Chinedu told her, she needed serious prayers to be able to get her husband’s gratuity from FAAN. She said when the money was eventually released, Chinedu invited her and told her that God said she should give him the money.
The incident happened at Biliaminu Close in Oke- Afa, Ejigbo, so she went around the locality, to look for the minister. Confessing that her search proved futile, so she went and report what happened to the church. It was at this point, that the matter was reported to the police at Ejigbo Police Division and Chinedu arrested and charged to court for fraud.
Chinedu who hails from Imo state, Iseke in Ideato said he prayed for the woman to get her husband’s gratuity and the money was paid. He said, he only 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 case has been adjourned till 26 April 2017.
Sunday, December 22, 2024
