Pastor gets N10m bail for alleged N58m fraud

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The Federal High Court in Lagos Monday granted a pastor, Chris Anyalebechi, N10 million bail following his re-arraignment for an alleged N58 million fraud.

The Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) brought Anyalebechi before Justice Mohammed Idris on a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.Anyalebechi, the General Overseer of Christ Glory International Gospel Center, Ikorodu, Lagos, was remanded on September 5, following his arraignment before Justice Babs Kuewumi for the same offences.

At the resumed hearing of the matter Monday, the police said, Anyalebechi, between April 2014 and March last year, conspired with others now at large to obtain the N58 million from Nestor Nwankwo of Zicozeen Nigeria Limited.

The cleric allegedly promised to buy a used ship for the company and sell it in parts or scraps on its behalf.

The charge, marked FHC/L/367C/2016, reads: “That you, Pastor Chris Anyalebechi, General Overseer, Christ Glory International Gospel Center, Ikorodu, Lagos, sometimes between April 2014 and March 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N85 million from a company known as Nestor Nwankwo of Zicozeen Nigeria Limited, by representing to the company that you will purchase for the company a used ship or vessel and sell same in parts or scraps on behalf of the company, a representation you knew to be false.”

The alleged offences contravened Section 1(1) (a) (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences, Act, 2006.

The cleric pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Defence counsel George Ibekwe’s application for bail was not opposed by prosecution counsel, Effiong Asuquo, a Chief Superintendent of Police.

Justice Idris admitted Anyalebechi to bail with two sureties in the same like sum and adjourned till November 28, for trial.

Source: http://nigerianewsnow.com.ng/2016/10/17/pastor-gets-n10m-bail-for-alleged-n58m-fraud/