LAGOS-BASED PROPHET HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON

A Lagos-based prophet has been sentenced to seven years in prison for defrauding a church member of N59.7 million

Cletus llongwo, a Lagos-based prophet, was sentenced to seven years in prison by an Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos for defrauding a church member of N59.7 million.

Ilongwo, the Presiding Pastor of the Power of the Holy Ghost Evangelical Ministry, was found guilty of fraxd and steeling charges on seven counts. In her decision, Justice Sherifat Solebo ordered that the convict's property, located at No. 3 Popoola Ajayi St., Diamond Estate in Amuwo Odofin, be forfeited to the complainant. "His Toyota Prado is also to be forfeited to the Federal Government as restitution to settle the complainant," Solebo stated.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the convict defraded a former member of his congregation, Mr Obinna Ezenwaka, on January 29, 2016. Nwandu Ukoha, counsel for the EFCC, told the court that Longwo received the money in installments through his Zenith Bank account 1003*******

Ukoha stated that the convict received the money from Ezenwaka on several occasions in 2016 under the guise of assisting him in purchasing a property at 165c Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. In his allocutus, defence counsel Mr Albert Imolodia informed the court that the convict was a first-time offender. "He is a family man who has people that rely on him for their survival. We pray the court to temper justice with mercy." Imolodia stated.

The EFCC counsel, on the other hand, urged the court to impose the maximum sentence allowed by law as well as a restitution order in accordance with the Advance Fee Fraud Act.