Pastor arraigned for N1.4m land fraud

A 52-year-old pastor, Emmanuel Okwedimbu on Tuesday, arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, for allegedly defrauding a woman of N1.4 million under the guise of selling a portion of land to her.

The pastor appeared before the court on a three-count charge of stealing.

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The suspect agreed to sell a plot of land situated at the Isheri Fagbile area of the state to Nwabueze, but failed.

It was learnt that Okwedimbu, and one other who is presently on the run, had collected the money from the complainant, Mrs. Teresa Nwabueze, an official of the Nigerian Maritime Authority, about eight years ago.

It was learnt that the woman wrote a petition to the police at the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, which led to Okwedimbu’s arrest.

Punch report that a police prosecutor, Inspector Haruna Ibrahim, told the court that the offence contradicted sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

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The charge read in part, “That you Pastor Emmanuel Okwedimbu and one other at large, between the year 2009 and 2010 in Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, with the intent to defraud, did obtain from one Mrs. Teresa Nwabueze of Adeleke Adebayo Street, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos, the sum of ₦1,400,000 under the false pretences of selling a plot of land situated at Isheri Fagbile area of Lagos to her – a representation you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The magistrate, Bakare, granted him bail in the sum of N400,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till August 29, 2017.