An Assistant Pastor working with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ayodeji Oluokun, has been jailed on allegations of fraud.
Oluokun is reported to have issued a dud cheque to a client of his.
Counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Samuel Daji, petitioned Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja to convict the defendant, accusing him of issuing a $1.6 million dud cheque to a client.
Daji had prayed the court to immediately convict Pastor Oluokun, arguing that the cleric and the nominal complainant had not been on talking terms, thereby making the terms of restitution difficult to meet.
He also asked to the court to order the defendant to forfeit his property in order to pay up the debt.
In his reaction, defence counsel to Oluokun, Edoka Onyeke, prayed the court to grant the convict a non-custodian sentence.
He explained that the accused was a pastor and could use his pastoral work as a service to humanity, through community service.
In her ruling, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sentenced Oluokun who was identified with the RCCG City of David Parish, Victoria Island, to two years imprisonment for issuance of a $1.6 million dud cheque.
Oluokun was charged alongside his company, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Ltd, on an amended six-count charge bordering on the issuance of a dud cheque, stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, however, in her judgment, held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge of issuance of a dud cheque against the defendants but discharged and acquitted the defendants of stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.
According to her, the prosecutor failed to establish the charge of stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.
The judge thereafter also ordered Oluokun to pay a fine of two million naira and his company to also pay a fine of two million naira to get bail.
She also ordered the convict to make restitution of $1.6 million to the nominal complainant within 18 months.
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RCCG Pastor Jailed for Fraud