MICHAEL AKINOLA
Two men, Michael Aderele, 28 and Samson Idowu, 20, have been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling Pastor Chukwu Ferdinand of the Glorious Mount of Possibility Church to the tune of N5m for undisclosed transactions.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened from June, 2024 to 19th February, 2025, at Dada Street, in Ojo area of the State.
According to the Police, the suspects had undisclosed transactions with the complainant and stole the money which prompted the Pastor to report to the Police at Ojo Division.
Consequently, the Police arrested the suspects and detained them at the station for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
They were found culpable for the alleged offence after interrogation by the Police.
Thus, they were charged before the Ojo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT 1: “That you, Michael Aderele ‘M’ and Samson Idowu ‘M’ from the month of June, 2024 to 19th February, 2025 at Dada Street, Ojo in the Ojo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit Stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of 2015.”
COUNT 2:”That you, Michael Aderele ‘M’ and Samson Idowu ‘M’ on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Nairaj, property of Glorious Mount of Possibility Church represented by one Pastor Chukwu Ferdinand ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Esther Adesulu, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.M. Ogun, granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.