Pastor Sells Off Church Property and Escapes With The Money; Arrested In Lagos
The same Pastor Ezeiru had earlier been brought before the same court for defrauding member of his church identified as Ifeanyi Ohazurume of N7m.
Giving evidence in the latest case, Police said: 43yrs old Pastor Ezeiru sold the church building and land on Plots 9A and 9B, Family Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, after which he absconded with the proceeds of the sale.
The church trustees – Ifeanyi Ohazurume, Stella Johnson, George Ndubuisi and Ozuruonye Onwuka – reported the matter to the police and a manhunt was launched for the pastor since March 2013. He was caught in later April, 2014, and arraigned on three counts of fraudulent sale of property and stealing.
Pastor Ezeiru was said to have sold the church building for N7.5m, while the land was sold for N5m.
The charges read in part, “That you, Pastor Ikechukwu Ezeiru, and others at large, being the General Overseer of a church known as Christ Citizen Glorious Assembly Church, Plots 9A and 9B, Family Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, in the month of March 2013, in the Lagos Magisterial District with intent to defraud, did sell church building and land, property of Christ Citizen Glorious Assembly, represented by the trustees, Ifeanyi Ohazurume, Stella Johnson, George Ndubuisi and Ozuruonye Onwuka.
“That you being the General Overseer of a church known as Christ Citizen Glorious Assembly Church, Plots 9A and 9B, Family Estate Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, did steal the sum of N7,500,000, property of the church….”
Police prosecutors said the offences were punishable under sections 409, 324, 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011. But Pastor Ezeiru pleaded not guilty.
Chief Magistrate Mrs. A.A. Demi-Ajayi, granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
He will remain in prison custody until he meets the bail condition. Full trial will commence on May 26, 2014.
