Lagos-based Prophet sentenced to seven years imprisonment after finding him guilty of N59.7m fraud.
Written By Dedeigbo Ayodeji
Posted By Town Crier News Nigeria
Published By Fitness Network Communications
Justice Sherifat Solebo of a Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has sentenced a Lagos-based prophet, Cletus Ilongwo, to seven years imprisonment after finding him guilty of N59.7m fraud.
The judge ordered the forfeiture of his property situated at 3 Popoola Ajayi Street at Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin and Toyota Prado, to FG as a restitution to settle the complainant.
Ilongwo, the Presiding Pastor of the Power of the Holy Ghost Evangelical Ministry, was found guilty of seven counts charges bordering on fraud and stealing.
He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly defrauding a former member of his congregation, Obinna Ezenwaka.
The anti-graft agency had alleged that the prophet received the said amount from Ezenwaka on different occasions in 2016 on the pretext of helping him to purchase a property located at 165c Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
According to the EFCC, Ilongwo collected the sum in tranches through his Zenith Bank account 1003455899.
In an allocutus plea, the Prophet counsel, Mr Albert Imolodia informed the court that the convict is a first time offender and a family man who has a dependant who relies on him for their survival.
He urged the court to be lenient in his sentence as some of the money has been restituted to the complainant and he is remorseful.
In a counter reaction, EFCC Counsel, Nwandu Kalu Ukoha prayed to court to give him maximum sentence as required by law and a restitution order in line with the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
Prophet Cletus Ilongwo, was said to have on January 29, 2016, at Lagos, within the Ikeja Juridical Division, dishonestly converted for your own use the sum of N59.7m, being money received through your Zenith Bank account number 1003495899 from Obinna Ezenwaka meant for the purchase of the property situated at No 165c, Block 12, Diamond Estate, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.
