How Bishop Katung’s cooperative collected my ₦3.9m investment — Witness

A Federal High Court in Jos on Wednesday heard how a civil servant allegedly lost ₦3.9 million to an investment scheme linked to Bishop Jonas Katung of the Plateau-based Maranatha Covenant Churches International.

Testifying as the third prosecution witness (PW3), Dajok Dakung Godfrey recounted how he invested in the Fadama Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society after watching Bishop Katung promote it on television in May 2010.

Katung, who is also the General Overseer of Living Stone Assembly International, is standing trial alongside Okewole Dayo on a 23-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence totalling ₦178.8 million.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Ibrahim Buba, the 42-year-old witness said he visited the cooperative’s temporary office in Jos on June 4, 2010, paid ₦1,000 for a registration form, and deposited ₦400,000 as his first contribution.

He continued contributing until his investment reached ₦3.9 million.

Godfrey told the court that the cooperative paid 10 per cent monthly interest until December 2011, after which payment stopped.

By 2012, unsettled members began raising alarms.

He said Dayo was introduced as the cooperative’s secretary and executive director, while Bishop Katung presented himself as its chairman or president.

Growing complaints prompted a meeting at Lamond Hotel in Jos, where the defendants promised to resolve the issues — a promise the witness said never materialised.

The witness identified receipts issued to him by the cooperative, which the court admitted as Exhibit H.

He also said the cooperative deducted 1 per cent monthly from members’ savings, amounting to ₦261,000 in his case.

Under cross-examination by Dayo’s counsel, C.I. Nwogbo, Godfrey admitted he never paid money directly to the first defendant and that the TV broadcast did not mention any partners.

He only learned of Dayo’s involvement when the scheme collapsed.

He also confirmed his written statement to the EFCC, tendered as Exhibit PW3A, as accurate.

When shown the cooperative’s bylaws (Exhibit E), he stated that Dayo’s name was not listed as secretary.

During cross-examination by G.G. Achi, counsel to Bishop Katung, the witness said he did not know the bishop personally before 2010 but “knew him as a man of God,” having attended one of his services.

He also confirmed that no minutes were taken at the Lamond Hotel meeting.

With no re-examination from the prosecution, Justice Sharon T. Ishaya adjourned the matter to February 19, 2026, for continuation of trial.