Police Arrest Lagos Bishop For N9m Fraud

​The Lagos state police command has arrested and arraigned a Lagos Bishop at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday for alleged fraud.

The Bishop identified as Bankole Jefferson, was granted a bail of N1.5 million bail, after being charged with N9 million fraud. 


Jefferson, 54, bishop of Mercy Tabernacle Church, Ogba, allegedly commited the offence in January this year at Ogba, Lagos. He is now standing trial on a three -count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

According to police prosecutor Nwangwu, the accused obtained the money from the complainant, Mr Akinyemi Adebayo, on the pretext of supplying diesel. According to him, the accused committed the offences by conspiring with others still at large. .

“The complainant reported the case to the police who later discovered after series of investigations that the accused is fraudulent. Jefferson avoided being arrested by travelling to the U.S. on an unknown mission. .

The accused was arrested upon his return and claimed the money was paid as offering to the church. He however converted the money to personal use and all efforts to recover the money proved abortive,’’ Nwangwu said. 

The accused, however, entered a not ` guilty plea’ and his lawyer applied for bail on liberal terms. 
The case was adjourned until Nov. 20.

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