Court Remands Pastor, Wife For Stealing N63.5m From Dead Woman

February 25, 2020

A Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Tuesday remanded a pastor and his wife in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS) for allegedly stealing N63.5 million belonging to one late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Adeola.

The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada ordered that the couple, the senior pastor of Temple International Church, Lagos, Harry Uyanwanne and wife, Oluwakemi be kept behind bars after they were arraigned before her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

The defendants, who were arraigned alongside their church, are facing a seven count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, stealing and obtaining money by false pretense.

The EFCC maintained that the offences are contrary to section 278, 278 (1) (b), 285, 285(1) of the criminal law of Lagos state of Nigeria , No 11, 2011 and section 1 (2) and (3) Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offence Act.

According to the EFCC counsel, S.O Daji, the couple sold the property of one late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola located at plot 32, block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja local government to one Mr. Kingsley Atere for N42,000,000.

Daji also claimed that the defendants dishonestly converted the sum of N10 million being proceed of the property of late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola to their own use.

According to the charge sheet, “Harry Uyanwanne, Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa (aka Kristein Uyanwanna) and Temple International Church on or about the March 18 2016, converted to your own use the sum of N10, 000,000 property of late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola.”
The charge further stated: ,”Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa (aka Kristein Uyanwanne) on or about the 14th day of March 2016 in Lagos, by false pretence and with intent to defraud sold the property known as plot 32, Block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja local Government to one Mr. Kingsley Atere for the sum of N42million on the false representation that you were authorized to sell the property by the Bonafide owner, late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola which representation you know was false”.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following the development, prosecutor, Daji urged the court to remand them in custody.

He also asked the court for a trial date.

Justice Dada granted his request and then adjourned the matter until May 5 for commencement of trial .