Pastor Arrested for Diverting Church’s N15m for His PhD and Enlisting His Wife on Church’s Payroll
- A pastor identified as Omosebi Fred Adeola has been dragged before the Abuja court by the anti-graft agency EFCC
- Adeola entered the dragnet of law over alleged diversion of church's funds for personal use, abuse of power, among other reasons
- The self-acclaimed pastor was also said to have enlisted his wife on the church's payroll and abused trust as the church leader
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Omosebi Fred Adeola, a self-acclaimed Nigerian pastor, has been arraigned before the court over alleged diversion of church funds to the tune of N15.6 million.
Adeola was dragged before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja by the Economic and Finacial Crime Commission (EFCC) on eleven-count charges.
Source: Instagram
The charges, according to the anti-graft agency, bordered on alleged "conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of funds."
Funding his PhD
The pastor of the Adventist Church was said to have supposedly used the church's relief funds for personal use including paying for his PhD programme at Babcock University (BU).
Adeola, who is also a country director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency of Nigeria, was also said to have illegally enlisted his wife on the church’s payroll.
He will be facing judgement before Justice A.O Otaluka of the court located in Apo, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Nigerians react
Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media have been reacting to the pastor's arrest following a statement released on Tuesday, July 13, by the EFCC.
Dupssybabby wrote:
"Church money concern EFCC? Church members can't leave judgement in God's hand. God help us."
Pyramid properties commented:
"Finally, he's caught. God be praised. Hopefully, by God's grace, his cohorts will be brought to book as well. Mind you, Mr Omosebi Adeola isn't a pastor but a member of the church."
Emeka Joe wrote:
"The church should have leave (left) God to judge him."
Covidquin commented:
"This is why I stopped going to church. 90 % of pastors are thieves.''
Abuja barber lands in jail over juju scam
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In a related development, Legit.ng reported that An Abuja-based hairstylist identified as Dennis has been sentenced to a five-month jail term after he was convicted of a juju scam by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a statement on Thursday, July 8, via its official Instagram page, the sentence sending Dennis who is popularly known as Baba Dayo to jail was passed on Wednesday, July 7, by Justice A.O. Musa.
This followed a hearing convicting the hairstylist of using charm to obtain $110 (N45,000) from an American by false pretence.
Source: Legit.ng
