Adebisi Onanuga
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday remanded a pastor and his wife in custody for allegedly stealing N63.5 million belonging to one late Mrs Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola
The defendants, the senior pastor of Temple International Church, Lagos, Harry Uyanwanne and wife, Oluwakemi were arraigned alongside their church.
They are facing a seven-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, stealing and obtaining money by false pretences before Justice Mojisola Dada.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor Mr. S.O Daji told the court that the couple sold the property of one late Mrs Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola at plot 32, block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja to one Mr Kingsley Atere for N42,000,000
He further stated that the defendants dishonestly converted the sum of N10 million being proceeds of the property of late Mrs Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola to their own use.
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According to the charge sheet,“ Harry Uyanwanne, Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa (a.k.a Kristein Uyanwanna) and Temple International Church on or about the March 18, 2016, converted to your own use the sum of N10,000,000 property of late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola”.
The charge further stated: ”Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa (a.k.a Kristein Uyanwanne) on or about the 14th day of March 2016 in Lagos, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, sold the property known as Plot 32, Block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja local Government to one Mr Kingsley Atere for the sum of N42million on the false representation that you were authorised to sell the property by the bonafide owner, the late Mrs Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola which representation you know was false”.
The couple pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Daji urged the court to remand them because of their not-guilty plea.
He also asked the court for a trial date. Justice Dada adjourned the matter until May 5, 6 and 7, 2020.
