Joyce Okpala BLOG: Man Arrested For Duping Winners Chapel Of N77million

The Economics and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, on
Thursday February 19, 2015
arraigned one Chief Felix Ogbebor
before Justice B. O. Quadri of the
Federal High Court, Port Harcourt,
on 8-count charge bordering on
conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining
money by false pretence to the tune
of Seventy Seven Million Naira
(N77, 000, 0000.00).
The accused allegedly obtained the
sum of Seventy Seven Million Naira
from the Living Faith Church
(Winners Chapel), Stadium Road
branch, Port Harcourt for twelve
and half plots of land situated at
Uyo Street, Rumumasi and Port
Harcourt
He allegedly presented several
forged documents to support the
claim of ownership of the said
land. But the unsuspecting church
which wanted the land to build its
new worship center paid the sum
of Seventy Seven Million Naira
(N77, 000,000.000) to the accused.
However, when they attempted to
take possession of the land, they
were stopped. One Professor Ebi
Awotua Efebo came with
documents, showing that the land
in question belongs to him. The
documents showed that he bought
the land from one Chief Nelson
Chukwu as far back as 1990.
One of the counts read, “that you
Chief Felix Ogbebor sometime in
March, 2011 at Port Harcourt
within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court, with intent to
defraud, did obtain the sum of
Seventy Seven Million Naira
(N77,000,000.00) only from the
registered trustees of Living Church
(Winners Chapel, Stadium Road,
Port Harcourt) being payment
made to you as owner of the piece
of land lying and situate along Uyo
street (Ohia Mini Apu), Rumuomasi,
Obio Akpo Local Government Area
of Rivers State, measuring an area
of 4211.769sq.m, a pretext you
knew to be false and thereby
committed an offence contrary to
section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee
Fraud and Other Fraud Related
Offences Act 2006 and punishable
under section 1 (3) of the same
Act”.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
In view of the plea of the
defendant, the prosecuting counsel,
J.N Dogonyaro asked for a trial date
and prayed the court to remand the
accused in the EFCC custody. But
defence counsel, R.E. Wanogho
formally presented a bail
application and urged the court to
grant the accused bail.
Justice Quadri adjourned the
matter to February 24, 2015 for
ruling on bail application and
remanded the accused in EFCC
custody.