Lagos prophet arrested by 100 security operatives arraigned for N54.5m fraud

Recalls that over 100 security operatives stormed the Lagos church located at Shoba community, Abule-Ado, Lagos on Saturday to arrest Prophet Ilongwo for the alleged fraud. Prophet Ilongwo, was arrested over allegations of scam made against him by some members of his church and the community. The security agents, numbering about 100, made up of officials of EFCC, and policemen stormed the church to arrest the prophet who was initially sheilded by his members but was eventually arrested. At Monday’s proceedings, Prophet llongwo, who was dressed in a long red robe, pleaded not guilty to the 11 count charges brought against him by the EFCC. According to the EFCC, Ilongwo committed the offences between January and April 2016. In one of the charges, Ilongwo collected N13. 5m from one Obinna Ezenwaka on the pretext that he would help him purchase a property located 165c, Diamond Estate Amuwo Odofin. He was further accused of collecting a sum of N10m from Ezenwaka also under the pretext of purchasing the samr property, but however failed to do so. During the period, Prophet Ilongwo collected the sums of N10m, N7m, N3m, N150,000 from Ezenwaka through his Zenith Bank account 1003455899. After the Prophet was arraigned, his lawyer, P.N Orji informed the court about a pending bail application he had filed on behalf of his client. The EFCC prosecutor, Ahmed Yerima, however did not oppose but asked for time to respond to the application. The presiding Judge, Justice Sherifat Solebo adjourned the matter till 14th and 19th of November respectively, for hearing of the bail application and for trial to commence. Prophet Ilongwo was initially arrested early this year by the Police and EFCC after a former member of the church reported that he defrauded him of N85 million. After he was invited for interrogation, he jumped bail and efforts made to re-arrest him failed until his surety was arrested by security operatives.]]>