EFCC arrests pastor for defrauding church member N3.9m in Kwara

The Ilorin zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the General Overseer of CAC Freedom City Prophetic and Deliverance Ministry, Ilorin, Prophet Adeniyi Abiodun James, for allegedly defrauding a member of the church to the tune of N3,980,000.

In a statement by the head, media and publicity of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC said that the victim, Oluwole Babarinsa, had in a petition to the commission, alleged that Prophet James called him out during a church programme some time in 2021 that he had a revelation that he would travel abroad.

“According to the petitioner, the cleric, in the course of giving the revelation, asked him about his preferred country, to which he replied “Canada”. Thereafter, they reportedly struck an agreement to talk later in order to perfect arrangements for the trip.  

“The prophet, he said, later told him that he had a friend in Lagos who could help him facilitate his relocation to Canada, but at a cost of N1.7 million and N2.5 million for processing of flight ticket and travel documents, respectively. 

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“The petitioner further disclosed that he had to sell some of his properties and took some loans before he could raise N3,980,000 which he gave the prophet to facilitate his quick relocation to Canada.

“After prolonged waiting with no result, the petitioner became agitated and began to query the prophet’s vision, prompting him to ask for a refund of his money. He said that all efforts and entreaties to the suspect to refund his money yielded no positive result”.

The statement also said that the suspect would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.