Pastor Escapes With Money Contributed To Buy Musical Instruments For Church

A pastor with Blaze of Fire Ministry in Sapele, Delta State, Tony Ugochukwu has reportedly absconded with a sum of money contributed by church members to buy musical instruments.

Ugochukwu is said to be the lead pastor of the Amukpe branch of the church.

Apart from escaping with church money, it was also discovered that he presented a fake name and has been using a fake identity before his sudden disappearance.

According to the report, he told people his name was Tony Ugochukwu but the church later found out that his real name is Valentine Omeire.

The pastor who hails from Owerri, Imo State has been declared wanted by the church after he could not be reached for some days.

A source said, “the money was gathered for the sole purpose of buying (musical) instruments for the church”.

The matter has also been reported to the police in Sapele.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos, has arrested a father and son over their alleged involvement in Fraud.

The Nigeria anti-graft agency said it commenced investigation into an alleged case of conspiracy, computer-related fraud, obtaining by false pretence and retention of proceeds of unlawful activities levelled against one Malik Giles Bakare who was arrested and handed over to the Commission by officers of the Nigeria Police, Force CID, Alagbon, Lagos on May 31, 2021.

According to EFCC, during the course of the investigation, his father, Isa Bola Bakare, appeared at the Commission claiming ownership of a Range Rover car estimated at about N46 Million, which was recovered from his son but failed to provide a satisfactory account of how he was able to procure the vehicle.