The judge thereafter sentenced the RCCG pastor to two years imprisonment or pay a fine of N2 million and his company to also pay a fine of N2 million.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja has sentenced Assistant Pastor Ayodeji Oluokun of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos to two years imprisonment for issuing $1.6 million dud cheque.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged the RCCG pastor and his company, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Ltd, on an amended six-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque, stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.
Ruling on Wednesday, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said the prosecution successfully proved the charge of issuance of dud cheque against the defendants.
The judge, however, discharged and acquitted the defendants of stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.
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The judge thereafter sentenced the RCCG pastor to two years imprisonment or pay a fine of N2 million and his company to also pay a fine of N2 million.
She ordered the convict to make restitution of $1.6 million to the nominal complainant within 18 months.
Earlier before the sentencing of the RCCG pastor, EFCC counsel, Samuel Daji, urged the court to convict the defendants as charged, arguing that the convict and the nominal complainant had not been on talking term, thereby making the terms of restitution difficult to meet.
He also prayed to the court to order the defendant to forfeit his property in order to pay up the debt.
In a counter reaction, defence counsel, Edoka Onyeke, prayed to the court to grant the RCCG pastor a non custodian sentence, adding that he could use his pastoral work as service to humanity through community service.
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