Redeemed Pastor Duped N1.6m Church Money By Woman

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Pastor Tunde Olanipekun of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, in Oshodi Parish has been duped of the church’s money worth N1.6m by a woman under the false pretence of selling her property for that amount.

The incident happened at 17 Ogunwemimo street in Mafoluku Oshodi, Lagos where the suspect, a 50-year old, Rachael Ogunwemimo allegedly obtained the money from Olanipeku and where the church was located.

Our correspondent learnt that ogunwemimo approached Pastor Olanipekun and offered to sell the house to the church at N1.6m and both parties agreed.

However, P.M.EXPRESS gathered the transaction turned out to be a scam as the suspect had only planned to use the place to defraud Olanipekun and had no such right to sell it.

An excited Olanipekun arranged the church money and made payment thereafter, but the suspect reportedly bolted away with the money and did not give Olanipekun the place as they agreed.

The matter was reported to the police who trailed Ogunwemimo  and eventually arrested and was taken to the station where she admitted that she actually obtained the money from Olanipekun.

When she was asked to refund the money, she said there was no money to refund as she had spent the money.

She was charged before a Lagos  Magistrate’s court sitting in Ikeja with conspiracy and stealing under the Criminal Code.

She pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Layinka granted her bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in the like sum who must show evidence of tax payment.

She was remanded in prison custody pending when she will perfect her bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 27 March 2017.