Pastor, church members remanded over illegal sale of property

A pastor identified as Akintoye Joseph, has been arraigned before an Ado Ekiti Magistrate court alongside one Ogundipe Sunday and others at large on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, false pretence and conduct likely to breach public peace.

The pastor, alongside others who were said to be specialist in fraudulent sale of property without owner’s consent in Ekiti State were apprehended by the police who charged them to court.

The defendants were alleged to have conspired to sell a “building at No 1, Ijigbo Street, Mugbagba area, Ado Ekiti, property of late Idris Omole, (late chief Imam of Ijigbo mosque) at the rate of N7million,” without the consent of the late Omole’s family.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were arraigned before Chief Magistrate R. A. Adegboye. They were however, ordered to be remanded by the court until they are able to perfect their bail.

Part of the charge against the defendants read that: you, Pastor Akintoye Joseph ‘m’, Ogundipe Sunday ‘m’ and others at large on the 26th April, 2016 at about 2:00 pm at Mugbagba area Ijigbo Street Ado-Ekiti, in the Ado Ekiti Magistrate district did conspire together to commit felony to with Obtaing property by False Pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516(A) of the Criminal Code Cap.C16 Vol.1 Laws of Ekiti State.

That you, Pastor Akintoye Joseph ‘m’ Ogundipe Sunday ‘m’ and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did by False Pretence sell a building at No.1 Ijigbo Street, Mugbagba area Ado Ekiti property of Late Idris Omole ‘m’ at the rate of 7M (Seven million naira) only and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap.C16 Vol.I Laws of Ekiti State.

The accused persons were however, granted bail by the court in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties, one of which must be a level 14 civil servant, while one of them must reside within Ado Ekiti metropolis.

The case has been adjourned till January 11, 2017.