The founder of Power of the Holy Ghost Evangelical Ministry a.k.a Tuesday Tuesday Church, Prophet Cletus Ilongwo was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos for allegedly defrauding church members of N54.5 million.
Prophet Ilongwo was arraigned on an 11 count charge of fraud preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The EFCC arrested Ilongwo following allegations of fraudulent schemes made against him by some members of his congregation
Over 100 security operatives made up of EFCC officials and police officers, had at the weekend, on Saturday, 3rd November, 2018 stormed the church premises located at Shoba community, Abule-Ado, Lagos to arrest the Prophet on the allegations of fraud.
During yesterday’s proceedings, Prophet llongwo, dressed in a long red robe, denied the allegations.
But according to the EFCC, Ilongwo committed the offences between January and April 2016.
One of the charges against him read that Ilongwo collected N13. 5m from one Obinna Ezenwaka on the pretext that he would help him purchase a property located 165c, Diamond Estate Amuwo Odofin.
The EFCC further alleged that the prophet collected the sum of N10m from Ezenwaka also under the pretext of purchasing the same property, but however failed to do so.
During the period, Prophet Ilongwo collected the sums of N10m, N7m, N3m, N150,000 from Ezenwaka through his Zenith Bank account 1003455899.
After his not guilty plea, the defence lawyer, P.N Orji informed the court about a pending bail application filed on behalf of the defendant.
The EFCC prosecutor, Ahmed Yerima however did not oppose but asked for time to respond to the application.
The presiding Judge, Justice Sherifat Solebo thereafter adjourned the matter till 14th and 19th of November respectively, for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.
Meanwhile, it could be recalled that Prophet Ilongwo was initially arrested early this year by the Police and EFCC after a former member of the church reported that he defrauded him of N85 million.
After he was invited for interrogation, he jumped bail and efforts made to re-arrest him failed until his surety was arrested by security operatives. (New Telegraph)
