Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced a Lagos-based clergyman, Cletus Ilongwo, to seven years imprisonment for defrauding his church members of N59.7 million.
Justice Solebo sentenced Ilongwo, who is the Presiding Pastor of the Power of the Holy Ghost Evangelical Ministry after she found him guilty of the seven-count charge of fraud and stealing brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC counsel, Nwandu Ukoha had told the court that the convict defrauded a former member of his congregation, Obinna Ezenwaka of the sum on January 29, 2016.
Ukoha had also stated that the convict obtained the money in tranches through his Zenith Bank account 1003455899.
The lawyer had further told the court that the convict obtained the sum from Ezenwaka under the pretence of helping him to purchase a property located at 165c Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
While pleading for mercy on behalf of his client, the defence counsel, Albert Imolodia informed the court that the convict was a first-time offender and a family man who has people that rely on him for their survival
“We pray the court to temper justice with mercy,” Imolodia said.
However, the prosecutor urged the court to give the convict the maximum sentence as required by law and order restitution in line with the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
Meanwhile, apart from the seven-year jail term, Justice Solebo, in her judgment also ordered the forfeiture of the convict’s property situated at 3 Popoola Ajayi Street Diamond Estate in Amuwo Odofin to the complainant.
The judge held, “His Toyota Prado is also to be forfeited to the Federal Government as restitution to settle the complainant.”
