By Eberechi Obinagwam
A Lagos State High Court judge, Justice Mojisola Dada, has remanded the pastor of Temple International Church , Harry Uyanwanne, in medium correctional facility for allegedly stealing N53. 5 million belonging to late Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola.
Justice Mojisola sitting at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, remanded the pastor, alongside his wife, Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa, also known as Kristein Uyanwanne, and adjourned the matter to May 5, 6, 7, 2020.
The cleric was arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a seven-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 278, 278(1) (b), 285, 285 (1) of the criminal law of Lagos State.
The charges read: “Harry Uyanwanne, Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa otherwise known as Kristein Uyanwanne and Temple International Church on or about the 18th day of March, 2016, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N10,000,000 property of the late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola.
“Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa (aka Kristein Uyanwanne) on or about the 14th day of March 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, sold the property known as plot 32, Block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja Local Government to one Mr. Kingsley Atere for the sum of N42,000,000 on the false representation that you were authorised to sell the property by the bonafide owner, the late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola, which representation you know was false.”
Upon reading the charges to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty.
In view of the defendants pleading of not guilty, the prosecutor requested for a trial date and also prayed that they should be remanded in prison custody which the judge did by adjourning the matter.
Relating the matter before the court, EFCC prosecutor S. O Daji, alleged that the defendants sold the property of late Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola at plot 32, block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja Local Government Area to one Kingsley Atere, for N42,000,000
The prosecutor further told the court that they dishonestly converted the sum of N10,000,000, property of the deceased (Janet), to their own use.