CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
This is not really the best of time for Pastor Jamiu Shola Kolawole of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, after he allegedly used his two storey building to defraud his tenant, Dr Emeka Ugwunze under false pretence.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that while he was still battling with two criminal trials for the alleged fraud and forgery before two separate Magistrate courts, a Lagos State High court has ordered him to pay about N12m to the victim including N3m damages.
The 59-year old Kolawole was arrested after he tricked Ugwunze and obtained about N9m under false pretence of selling his property which turned out to be a scam.
The house in question is located at 2 Gbagada road, Phase 2 Extension, Gbagada area of Lagos.
However, after he obtained the money, he bolted away and went into hiding until the Police was able to trace and arrested him.
Kolawole was charged before Isolo Magistrate court presided by the Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Adedayo. He was granted bail but was remanded in prison custody until he perfected his bail condition and was released from prison.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the embattled Pastor Kolawole’s matter worsened following the recent judgment given by Justice M.O. Obadina of the Lagos High court which ordered Kolawole to pay Ugwunze the money.
In the suit number LD/1479/2011 sighted by P.M.EXPRESS, the court ruled that ” I hold that the defendant is entitled to general damages for the unjustified withholding the claimant’s money since 2011.”
The court also ruled that the damages were due for payment immediately and will attract statutory post judgment interest if there was any default in payment.
Meanwhile, the two criminal cases against Kolawole at Igbosere and Isolo Magistrate courts were almost at the advanced state to judgment level.
At the Igbosere Magistrates court, he was alleged to have been involved in forgery which he denied and the trial had since commenced, while at the Isolo court, he is at present facing the alleged fraud under the Criminal code.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Kolawole is now at the risk of spending so many years in prison if he was found guilty in those two courts and may as well source for fund to pay Ugwunze for the damages as ruled by the High court.
It was also gathered that the RCCG leaders had waded into the matter and advised Kolawole to refund the money to Ugwunze but he was resistant and said to have claimed he had spent the whole money.
However, the court subtracted N2.1m Ugwunze was supposed to pay to Kolawole as rent which reduced the payment to about N10m which kolawole is expected to pay Ugwunze.