EFCC nabs suspected fraudulent pastor for N3.9m fraud

Glory Eboma

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, arrested the General Overseer of CAC Freedom City Prophetic and Deliverance Ministry, Ilorin, Prophet Adeniyi Abiodun James, for allegedly defrauding a member of the church to the tune of N3,980,000 (Three Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira).

The victim, Oluwole Babarinsa, had in a petition to the Commission, alleged that Prophet James called him out during a church programme some time in 2021 to say that he had a revelation that he would travel abroad.

According to the petitioner, the cleric, while giving the revelation, asked him about his preferred country, to which he replied “Canada”.

Speaking, Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, noted that they reportedly struck an agreement to talk later to perfect arrangements for the trip.

The prophet, he said, later told him that he had a friend in Lagos who could help him facilitate his relocation to Canada, but for N1.7 million and N2.5 million for processing of flight ticket and travel documents, respectively.

The petitioner further disclosed that he had to sell some of his properties and took some loans before he could raise N3,980,000 which he gave the prophet to facilitate his quick relocation to Canada.

After prolonged waiting with no result, the petitioner became agitated and began to query the prophet’s vision, prompting him to ask for a refund of his money. He said that all efforts and entreaties to the suspect to refund his money yielded no positive result.

The suspect will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.