MICHAEL AKINOLA
Pastor Godwin John of Royal Life Christian Church has been swindled by a 40-year old woman, Ajoke Jimoh, to the tune of N.150m under the false pretence of renting out a parcel of land to build a church and it turned to be a scam in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Raheem Street, Ijesha Bus Stop, Ayobo area of Lagos, where the said land is located.
The purported land owner, Ajoke Jimoh, has been arrested and charged for obtaining under the false pretence and stealing.
According to the Police, the Pastor had the divine direction to build a church for worship and met the suspect, who promised to rent out the land in question to him for the said amount.
However, unknown to Pastor John, the suspect had planned to defraud him. After he paid her the money, she bolted away and did not give him the land as they agreed nor refund his money.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ayobo Division. The operatives moved into action, later arrested the suspect and detained her at the station for interrogation over her conduct.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found her culpable as she never had any land to sell or rent out to Pastor John and had no money to refund him either as she had spent the money.
The Police charged her before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, granted her bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and addresses verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.