MFM Church Pastor In Police Net Over N8.6m Fraud

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A senior pastor of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry, Abule Egba branch, Pastor Emeka Iwuagwu has been arrested over his alleged involvement in a financial fraud to the tune of N8.6m in Lagos.

The cleric was alleged to have defrauded his spiritual son and member of the church simply known as Precious and used part of the money to start his own ministry.

The pastor was arrested following a petition to the Police at the Special fraud Unit, SFU by the victim over the alleged scam which has been described by the members of the church as wickedness.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the victim who was a businessman at the Computer Village in Ikeja sought for spiritual assistance from Iwuagwu for more progress in his thriving business but he ended up being defrauded by the same person approached for spiritual help.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that the victim entered into trouble after he went to Iwuagwu for counseling and prayers during which Iwuagwu realised that Precious had such money and started scheming how to defraud him.

It was learnt that he started by first giving him many prophecies and prayers to convince him to part with some money to no avail. He then conceived the idea to defraud him through a fake business transaction and the victim fell into his trap.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Iwuagwu informed Precious that his friend who lived abroad sent a container load of computers and accessories worth some millions of Naira for sale and showed him samples to convince him. He ordered him to clear the goods at the Apapa wharf and offset some expenses incurred on the transaction.

However, when Precious paid the money into his account, he bolted away and did not supply the items nor refund the money. When he was confronted, he admitted that he collected the money from the victim, had spent it and could not refund it.

When our correspondent visited the SFU, the Commissioner of Police, CP SFU could not be reached. However, sources confirmed the incident and said that Iwuagwu will be charged to court soon.

P.M.EXPRESS contacted some of the church members, they confirmed the incident and said Iwuagwu used the money to open his own church at his house and stopped coming to the church again.