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Three prominent members of the Celestial Church of Christ have been charged to court for defrauding the largest indigenous white garment church of monies running into several millions of naira.
The accused, John Rotimi Omotosho aka Jorotom, Folashade Ogundipe, Boye Olaniyan and Folafunmi Integrated Limited were alleged to have committed the offence between 2006 and 2018, while serving as members of the Building Committee of the Celestial Church of Christ Basilica situated at Imeko in Ogun State.
John Rotimi Omotosho, a Superior Evangelist, was the Chairman of the Building Committee, while Folashade Ogundipe, a top female member of the church, served as Secretary. Boye Olaniyan, another member of the white garment church was not a member of the Building Committee but served as Personal Assistant to the 1st defendant, John Rotimi Omotosho aka Jorotom. The 4th defendant, Folafunmi Integrated Limited is a limited liability company belonging to the 2nd defendant, Folashade Ogundipe.
The four count charge filed by the Inspector General of Police against the four accused persons is before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos and reads as follows:
COUNT 1:
That you, John Rotimi Omotosho (m), Folashade Ogundipe (f), Boye Olaniyan (m) and Folafunmi Integrated limited between 2006 to 2018 within the Lagos Judicial Division did conspire amongst yourselves to commit Felony to wit: obtaining money under false pretence and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.
COUNT 2:
That you, John Rotimi Omotosho (m), Folashade Ogundipe (f), Boye Olaniyan (m) and Folafunmi Integrated limited between 2006 to 2018 within the Lagos Judicial Division with intent to defraud the Celestial Church of Christ fraudulently obtained from the church the sum of N79,000,000:00 (Seventy Nine Million Naira) drawn at different dates with cheques from Zenith Bank PLC Account No: 1010529055 bearing the name Imeko Cathedral Development Project Committee, on false pretence that you are using the money to develop Celestial Church of Christ Cathedral, Imeko, Ogun State through Folafunmi Integrated limited, a representation you know to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) and punishable under section 1(3) both of the advance fee fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.
COUNT 3:
That you, Folashade Ogundipe (f) between 2006 and 2018 within the Lagos Judicial Division under false pretence and with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N4,500,000:00 (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from Zenith Bank PLC Account No: 1010529055 bearing the Account Name Imeko Cathedral Development Project Committee, through ten different cheques drawn in favour of Folafunmi Integrated limited on the representation that you were using the money to develop Celestial Church of Christ Cathedral, Imeko, Ogun State, property of Celestial Church of Christ, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) and (b) and punishable under section 1(3) both of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.
COUNT 4:
That you, Boye Olaniyan (m) between 2006 to 2018 within the Lagos Judicial Division with intent to defraud the Celestial Church of Christ, fraudulently obtained the sum of N2,300,000:00 (Two Million Three Hundred Thousand) from Zenith Bank PLC Account No: 1010529055 bearing the Account Name Imeko Cathedral Development Project Committee, through 28 different cheques drawn in your name, under the false pretence that you were using the money to facilitate the contract of the Church Cathedral Project and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) and (b) and punishable under section 1(3) both of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.
