71-yr-old in court over MFM’s N2.7m

The police in Lagos State  have arraigned a 71-year-old man, Babatunde Bamidele,  for allegelly duping a church of  the sum of N2.7 million. Bamidele appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State  alongside   42-year-old Orji Powell, with whom he allegedly conspired to dupe the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries of the said  sum. The septuagenarian resides at No. 35, Kujuore Street, Ojota, Lagos State, while Powell lives at No. 20, Ajukwu Street, Bariga, also in Lagos State.

According to the prosecutor, Assistant Supritendent of Police  Barth Nwaokoye, the duo and others still at large committed the offences on April 18 in Ikeja. According to Nwaokoye, the  duo obtained the sum under the pretext of leasing a property located at 31/37 Toyin Street,  Ikeja,   to the church. He said that the offence contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and duping.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. Demi-Ajayi, granted them bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Demi-Ajayi adjourned the case to July 22.