KINGSLEY EBERE
A 41-year old man, Olafare Olarotimi, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling Redeemed Christian Church God, Goshen Parish, to the tune of the sum of N. 3m under false pretence.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened in Ijegun area of Lagos, where the church is located.
According to the Police, the suspect collected the money under the false pretence of buying them some musical equipment and instead of buying the items, he bolted away with the money and disconnected every communication he had with the church.
The matter was reported to the Police at Isheri Oshun Division. The suspect was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
While being interrogated, he admitted to have collected the money but told the Police that he had spent the money to solve his personal problems.
The Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, OLAFARE OLAROTIMI sometime in July, 2025, at Ijegun area of Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in a manner that likely to cause a beach of public peace by obtaining from THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD, GOSHEN Parish, represented by one FALUADE SAMUEL ‘M’ & OLARENWAJU KEHINDE, M, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 168 (d) criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria.”
COUNT II :”That you, OLAFARE OLAROTIMI ‘M’, in the same period of time and place, within the mentioned magisterial district, did fraudulently obtain the sum of N385,000.00 (Three Hundred and eighty five thousand Naira), from THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD, GOSHEN PARISH represented by one FALUADE SAMUEL ‘M’ & OLARENWAJU KEHINDE ‘M’, under the false pretense of purchasing bass guitar and keyboard, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 criminal law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:” That you, OLAFARE OLAROTIMI ‘M’, in the same period of time and place, at the aforementioned magisterial district, did dishonestly steal the sum of N385, 000.00 (three hundred and eighty five thousand Naira) from THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF OD, GOSHEN PARISH represented by one FALUADE SAMUEL ‘M’ & OLARENWAJU KEHINDE ‘M’, under the pretense of purchasing bass guitar and keyboard, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 criminal law of Lagos Nigeria 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.A. Popoola, granted him bail with two sureties in like sum who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.