Pastor couple remanded in prison for N40 million fraud

Admin I Wednesday, Feb. 07, 2024

YABA, Lagos – A Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba today ordered a couple, Pastors Azuka and Mary Ohez to be remanded in prison custody over allegation of N40 million fraud.

Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun gave the remand order following their arraignment by the Nigeria Police on a two count charge of fraud. They were arraigned behind a closed door in the chamber of the Magistrate.

According to the charge information, the couple pastor and others now at large, on 13th of July, 2023, at Oba Ayoka Street Lagos, did conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit; stealing and receiving proceeds of crime, property of Climax Lubricants Industries Lagos, and thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

And the second count charge: The couple and others now at large, at Kingdom Power International Christian Praying Centre Ishashi Lagos, in Lagos, did knowingly received the total sum of Thirty Three Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Nine Thousand, Thirty Naira (N33,829,30) through your Fidelity Bank KPICPC account numbers 2033723459 and 5600923549 from one Chijioke Ezekirian ‘m’ being proceeds of sales, property of Climax Lubricants Industruies Lagos and thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 328(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

The couple however pleaded not guilty to the charge. Subsequently, their counsel, A. J. Alagbu urged the court to grant them bail in the liberal terms.

The police prosecutor, Bello Umar who did not opposed the request however urged court to make the condition such that they will not jump bail.

In her ruling, Magistrate Olatubosun granted the couple bail in the sum of N10m each with two sureties and a landed property within the court jurisdiction. She also ordered that the address of the sureties must be verified by the Registrar.