An Ikeja Lagos State Special Offenses Court has passed a judgment of three years sentence on a Pastor of Living Faith Faith, popularly known as Winners’ Chapel, Afolabi Samuel, who stole the church’s N4.5 million trustee fund.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned the Pastor, the church’s treasurer and accountant on two counts of conspiracy and stealing before Justice Mojisola Dada.
EFCC confirmed that the Pastor, and one Blessing Kolawale, who works with Covenant University, conspired and dishonestly stole the money, turning it for personal use.
According to the commission, Samuel conspired with others, including Kolawole, using their position in the church and the university to embezzle the church’s fund.
Their Criminal Law of Lagos State No. 11, 2011, sections 278, 285, and 490 finds them guilty as charged.
Justice Dada found Samuel guilty as charged, hence the three years imprisonment.
Rotimi Ogunwuyi, who is the counsel to the convict, stated that his client’s actions are not only embarrassing to him but also to the entire family. Rotimi pray the court to temper justice with mercy.
He further explains that Samuel, who now realizes he’s sorry for his misdeed, making him change his plea from not guilty to guilty, is responsible for his children’s education and the care and nurturing of his aged parents.
The counsel’s plea made the judge grant the convict a fine option of N1m and also ordered him to return the sum of $90,000 and N2,385,000 back to the church.