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Court Jails Lagos-Based Couple For 16 Years, Deregisters Their Church, Temple International Church Over N52million Fraud

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The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa, also known as Kristein Uyanwanne, to 16 years in prison for defrauding individuals of N52 million.

Their church, the Temple International Church, was also ordered to be deregistered and closed for its role in the fraud.

Justice Mojisola Dada delivered the verdict on Wednesday, convicting the couple of charges including stealing, dishonest conversion, false presentation, and fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had brought a seven-count charge against the duo and their church.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants used the guise of religious activities to defraud unsuspecting individuals.

The couple had pleaded not guilty when arraigned on February 25, 2020, prompting the prosecution to present its case.

The Prosecuting counsel, Mr Babatunde Sonoiki, called five witnesses to testify against the defendants, while the defence presented two witnesses.

Meanwhile, after reviewing the evidence, Justice Dada ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Justice Dada has sentenced the duo of Harry Uyanwanne and Odemuyiwa to various terms of imprisonment on charges of fraud and false representation.

On count one, both were sentenced to three years imprisonment. For counts two to six, Uyanwanne received a seven-year prison term, while Odemuyiwa was sentenced to three years. However, the court acquitted them of count seven.
Meanwhile, Uyanwanne was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, and Odemuyiwa, also known as Kristein Uyanwanne, received six years. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Justice Dada further ordered the deregistration and closure of the third convict, Temple International Church, citing its misuse of the name of God and the church to defraud people.

“I order that the third convict should be deregistered and closed down,” the judge declared.

The court also directed the convicts to restitute the sum of N31million to the nominal complainant within 60 days.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had alleged that in March 2016, the convicts dishonestly converted N10 million belonging to the late Mrs Janet Adeola Odemuyiwa for personal use.
They also sold a property located at Plot 32, Block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja Local Government, for N42 million under the false pretense that the first convict was authorised to sell it on behalf of the late owner.
The EFCC argued that these acts violated Section 1(2) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, as well as Sections 278 and 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria No. 11, 2011.

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I’ll be bigger in Nigeria – Pastor Adegboyega boasts, schedule for deportation!

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The founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, SPAC Nation, Tobi Adegboyega, has claimed that he will be more influential in Nigeria than in the UK.

His remarks follow the UK immigration upper tribunal’s approval of his deportation due to an alleged £1.87 million fraud charge.

Despite the ruling, Adegboyega vehemently denied the fraud allegations, calling them baseless and unsubstantiated.

In a preview of an upcoming Off The Record podcast episode, when asked if SPAC Nation was the only church facing such accusations, he emphasized the church’s success in the UK and Europe.

“We are the largest independent church in the UK and Europe right now,” he claimed.

He added, “If I am in Nigeria, I will be bigger than this, 10x maybe. If I am in Paris, I will be happier. It’s holiday for me. London will miss me, so you better tell them, we still need this guy, nobody is close to us entertaining us.”

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Former PDP Dep Governorship Candidate in Ekiti, Deji Ogunsakin Launches “The Better Life Foundation”

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…..Donating Food and Cash Gifts to Widows in Ado-Ekiti!

In a commendable act of generosity, Deji Ogunsakin has officially launched The Better Life Foundation, aimed at supporting and uplifting the lives of the vulnerables in society. During the inaugural event, Hon. Ogunsakin donated essential food items and cash gifts to widows in Ado-Ekiti, reaffirming his commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of those in need. This initiative focuses on promoting welfare and enhancing the quality of life for marginalized groups, with a vision of fostering hope and resilience in the society.

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Money Laundering: EFCC Arraigns Businessman, Akindele Akintoye For $35m Contract Fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, December 24, 2024, arraigned a businessman, Akindele Akintoye before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on charges bordering on money laundering and contract fraud.

Akintoye allegedly collected $35million from the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board to build a 2000 barrel- per -day refinery, jetty, gas plant, data centre, and tank farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, Okpoama community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

He allegedly mooted the idea of the project to the Board and the NCDMB embraced it with a counterpart funding to the tune of $35million. He allegedly received the funds through the bank account of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited and funneled the funds into four of his companies: Platform Capital Investment Partners, Duport Midstream Company Ltd., Puisance Afrique Dynamics Ltd., Adamantine Petrochemical & Refinery Ltd and Bureau de Change outlets

At the court sitting on Monday, EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told the court that the defendant faced a four-count charge filed on November 19, 2024, and requested that the charges be read to the defendant.

One of the counts read: “That you, Akindele Akintoye, and Platform Capital Investment Partners Limited, between December 2020 and February 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly retained the sum of $16,006,000 (Sixteen Million, Six Thousand United States Dollars), being part of the funds dishonestly converted from the money paid by the NCDMB to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited as investment, knowing the said sum constituted proceeds of unlawful activity, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” after the charges were read to him.

In view of his “not guilty” plea, Iheanacho requested the court to remand Akintoye in a Correctional Centre and sought a trial date.

However, counsel to the defendant, Emmanuel Esadio, applied for bail, stating that the application was filed and served on the prosecution.

Justice Nwite, in his response, emphasized the importance of allowing the prosecution to respond to the bail application, noting that the law requires a 48-hour period before a bail application can be considered.

“Justice is tripartite, to the accused, the defendant, and society. I cannot shut out the prosecution, they must be heard,” the Judge said.

Esadio further requested that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody, citing his client’s health issues and the need for easy access to legal counsel.

But Iheanacho opposed the request, arguing that the EFCC lacked adequate facilities and that Akintoye had demonstrated untrustworthiness, including allegedly retrieving his international passport after claiming it was in court custody.

“The defendant cannot be trusted. He has shown tendencies that suggest he may commit another crime. Additionally, there is no medical evidence before the court to support claims of ill health,” Iheanacho submitted.

After considering the arguments, Justice Nwite ordered Akintoye’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till December 31, 2024, for hearing on the bail application.

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