By Eberechi Obinagwam
A prophet, Cletus, has been arraigned in a Lagos High Court for defrauding a banker, Obinna Eze Nwaka.
The judge, S O Solebo, was told how Nwaka, at the time a staff of Zenith bank, became a victim of the con prophet, Cletus.
The prophet had proposed to Nwaka that a property at FESTAC was up for sale at a giveaway price of N50 million. That he could buy the property and resale at N150 million.
The prophet told the banker that the business idea would benefit both of them because a Chinese man was ready to pay the N150 million.
When Nwaka told the prophet that he didn’t have the kind of money, the prophet mocked him by saying: ‘and you said you are a banker. Sit down there as a banker. Better do something and raise the money’
Nwaka got hypnotized by the prophet’s word and he started transferring money from his bank’s customers account to his in the hope of refunding back the money when he must have sold the property.
To Obinna’s dismay, shortly after the purchase of the property, he realised that the land was bought in Cletus name and his church.
When he approached Cletus to remind him of their deal, he said the prophet started telling him funny stories.
He the reported the matter to the Economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC).
EFCC on investigation confirmed that Obinna made transfers of N47 million from his own account and those of his customers to Cletus.
Osita Michael Chekwube and Ifeanyi Kelvin Muo were among the customers whose money was used to pay for the property.
Michael is the managing director of Ossy Integrated Multi Concept Limited. He told the court that he gave Nwaka, his account officer at the time the sum of thirty seven million, six hundred thousand Naria to transfer to his shippers in dollars.
“After one month I did not see the tellers though the are times when it used to delay but this one took much time. My shippers were disturbing me to give them their balance,” he said.
Michael then reported the case to the police. At the time, Nwaka had reported the case to the EFCC.
The case was adjourned to June 25, 2019 for further hearing.
