Two church workers on trial for alleged N13m theft

The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force has arraigned two female church workers of Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministry (a.k.a. Grace Nation International or Liberation City) for alleged N13 million theft.

The church workers, Success Udoka and Prosper Iheukwumere, were arraigned on Thursday at an Ikeja High Court on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing of church money and fraudulent accounting.

They, however, denied the charges.

Following their arraignment, defence counsel, Mr. Nicholas Akahabue, pleaded with the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms and self recognition.

Akahabue in his submission told the court that he was willing to stand as a surety for the church workers if his request was granted.

He also promised to ensure that the allegedly stolen money was refunded to the church before the end of the trial.

Reacting, the SFU prosecutor, Mr. Emmanuel Jackson, did not oppose the request of the defence counsel. He, however, urged the court to grant bail on conditions that would ensure they appeared in court for their trial.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi granted the defendants bail on self recognition and ordered that the defendants deposit N5 million with the Court Registrar within 30 days.

The judge ordered the defence counsel to also deposit his certificate of “Call to Bar” within 30 days with the Court Registrar as a guarantee to always present the defendants for trial.

Oshodi noted that in the event the church workers were unable to meet up with the bail conditions within the stipulated time, they shall forfeit the bail.

The case was adjourned until May 19 for trial.

According to the SFU, the defendants committed the offences between 2019 and 2020 at the church located at Plots 4 to 12 Oshofisan St., Ojodu, Berger, Lagos.

“The funds were proceeds of sale of various spiritual materials and items belonging to the church.

“They deliberately failed to pay the proceeds into the church’s account domiciled in First Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank.

“They falsified various money related entries in Point of Sale payment receipts and sales books belonging to the church which came into their possession as sales supervisor and sales representative.

“The defendants did so in order to deceive the church into believing the financial records of their daily sales were accurate and balanced,” Jackson said.

The offences contravene Sections 383(1)(2),438 and 516 of the Criminal Code of 2004.

TheStar