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From: Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
A Chief Magistrate court, sitting in Ondo, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, has remanded a clergy, Pastor Akinmoladun Emmanuel, in prison custody for allegedly defrauding a man, Babatunde Adepeko, to the tune of N2.6 million.
The accused person who was the founder and shepherd in charge of a Cherubim and Seraphim church located at Ajegunle area of the town allegedly defrauded Adepeko in a bid to transact business with him.
The Pastor was arraigned on a three count charge of fraud, illegal conversion and false declaration.
Preceding his arraignment, the accused person had earlier been arrested by the police at the Ondo Area command of Nigeria police in Ondo for allegedly swearing to an oath of affidavit that he is the original owner of two plots of land located at Asin community in Ondo East Local Government Area of the state.
He was said to have fraudulently collected the said money from Mr. Adepeko 2013 and since then disappeared to an unknown destination.
Police prosecutor, Mr. Olagbayi Bernard, an Inspector who read the charge sheet to the accused, said the accused person purposely
defrauded the complainant under guise of selling two plots of land to him.
The Prosecutor added that “The accused pastor sometimes in the year 2016 at the Ondo High Court of Justice, in the Ondo judicial division
holding in Ondo town swore an oath of affidavit of agreement claiming to be the owner of the two plots of land sold to the complainant.”
The prosecutor added that the offences committed by the accused persons are contrary to and punishable under sections 419, 383, and
106 of the criminal code, cap 137 volume 1 laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
However, the accused person pleaded not guilty to all the charges leveled against him.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr Gbenga Awodeyi who adjourned the case to 26th July, 2017 ordered the accused Pastor to remain in
prison custody.
