Alleged $1.6m Fraud: EFCC Closes Case Against Pastor Oluokun
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has closed it’s case in the trial of an oil marketer and pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ayodeji Oluokun, before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Special Offences Court, Ikeja.
The defendant and his company were first arraigned before Justice Taiwo on January 21, 2019, facing two counts charge bordering on the issuance of dud cheques to the tune of $1.6m.
The charge was later review to five count charges on July 30, 2020 upon additional facts which emerge as a result of Investigation.
According to the EFCC, the defendant approached the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of GOSL Nigeria Limited, Emmanuel Ekpeyong, for loans of $1m and $666,666 to enable him to carry out operational activities in his company’s oil field in Bayelsa State and assured the complainant that he would repay the money within a year.
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The defendant was alleged to have issued two post-dated Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited cheques on June 26, 2014, for the sums of $1m and $666,666, but when the cheques were presented for payment, they were returned due to insufficient funds in the account of the drawer.
The EFCC alleged that Oluokun diverted the sums to his personal use, including procuring a mausoleum at the Vaults and Garden.
EFCC has so far called seven witnesses to proof the allegations against the defendant as it closes the trial after cross examination of the prosecution witness by the defence counsel, Dox Onyeke.
Subsequently the judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned till December 3 for Oluokun to open his defence.
