For snitching Winners’ Chapel’s $90,000 and N4.5 million, a pastor/accountant of the church at the headquarters, Ota in Ogun, Afolabi Samuel, is to cool his heels behind bars for 36 months.
Samuel was hauled up before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The monies, according to the prosecutors, belong to the registered trustees of the Living Faith Church, a.k.a Winners’ Chapel.
The pastor had conspired with Miss Blessing Kolawole, an employee of the Covenant University, now on the run, and pilfered the money thereby contravening Sections 278, 285 and 490 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Samuel, who was employed in the accounting department of the church to maintain proper records of funds, conspired with Kolawole and others to take advantage of their positions as the church’s treasurer and worker at the university.
In his plea for mercy, the convict’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Ogunwuyi, said by his action he did not only embarrass himself but also his family and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
He has realised his mistakes which made him to change his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty plea”. Samuel is also responsible for his children’s education and his aged parents’ care, he pleaded.
The judge, however, granted the convict an option of N1million fine and ordered him to refund the sum of $90,000 and N2. 35 million to the church.
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