EFCC re-arraigns 3 pastors over alleged N7.9m fraud

The EFCC on Monday re-arraigned three pastors for allegedly defrauding Angel Estate Residents Association in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos of N7.9 million.

The defendants, David Eshiet, (44), Samson Ugbara, (47) and Adesanmi Aderoju, (43), were re-arraigned before Justice Kudirat Jose of an Ikeja High Court.
They are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and uttering.
The defendants were previously arraigned on March 13, 2013 before Justice Olabisi Akinlade.

The trio had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each.
During proceedings, the EFCC Counsel, Mr Ben Ubi, said that the re-arraignment was necessitated by Akinlade’s transfer out of the criminal division.
He alleged that the defendants had conspired to fraudulently obtain four million naira and 25,000 dollars (N3.9 million) from the complainants.
The prosecutor said that the money was obtained on Oct. 27, 2011, under the guise of helping the complainants to source a loan of 100 million dollars.
Ubi also accused the defendants of forging various documents which were used in facilitating the fraud.