Admin l Wednesday, April 13, 2022
LAGOS, Nigeria – A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Tuesday declared that Pastor Ayodeji Oluokun of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)has a case to answer in the alleged issuance of dud cheques totaling $1.6 million.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo who was ruling in a no-case submission filed by the RCCG pastor through his counsel, Onyeke Edoka upheld that the prosecution had filed sufficient prima facie case against the defendant.
“After carefully considering the submission of the prosecution and the defense, the court at this stage is not to review the evidence of the prosecution but to see whether the prosecution has put enough evidence before that court to warrant the defendant to defend his case.
“The prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered different documents. The evidence of the prosecution shows that the prosecution has sufficiently proved a prima- facie case against the defendant.
“I hereby dismissed the case of the defence and order that the defendant open his defense,” Taiwo ruled that at the last date of adjournment, the defense counsel, Mr Onyeke Edoka, submitted that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.
The Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr Samuel Daaji, had asked the court to determine whether the evidence adduced by the prosecution sufficiently linked the defendant to the offenses to warrant him to be called on to open his defense.
The prosecution closed its case in October 2021 after calling its 7th witnesses. The defendant, who was an oil marketer and assistant pastor of RCCG, City of David Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos, was charged before the court alongside his oil firm, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Ltd by EFCC.
The defendant and his company were first arraigned before the court on Jan. 21, 2019, on a six-count amended charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, stealing and issuance of dud cheques.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charge and accordingly admitted to bail in some terms and conditions. EFCC, in a charge, marked ID/8509c/19, alleged that the defendant and his company, sometimes in 2014, approached the management of GOSL Nigeria Limited for a loan of $1.6 million to enable him to carry out operational activities in his company’s oil field in Bayelsa State.
The prosecution submitted that the defendant had assured the complainant that he would repay the money within sixty days.
Following the defendant’s failure to repay the loan as promised, he was alleged to have issued two post-dated Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited cheques dated June 26, 2014, for the sum of $1.6 million.
The EFCC stated that upon presentation of the cheques to the bank for withdrawal by the complainant on several occasions, they were returned due to insufficient funds, contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap D 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Taiwo adjourned the case until June 10 for the defendant to open defense.
