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Christ Embassy fraud: Suspects docked, members scold critics

By Chioma Igbokwe

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Hope of getting reprieve by the suspects who were alleged to have defrauded Christ Embassy Church to the tune of N60m has been dashed as all efforts to convince their General Overseer, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome to forgive them failed. The suspects have been charged to court on a two-count charge at Ikoyi High Court and risk being jailed if found guilty.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail. Those arrested are, Chinelo Ezeagwuna, Essien Mabel Ufonabasi, Keneyinboh Miriam Eneyi, Orie Nwakego Felicia and Bassey Bassey Charles.

Saturday Sun reported last week that the suspects who were active members of the healing school, a department of the church, had begged Oyakhilome to apply the principles of forgiveness by dropping the charges against them..

According to the Commissioner for police, Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Moses Sabo, the suspects where arraigned on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. “ No body is above the law that is why upon completion of the investigation they were charged to court. It is left for the judge to decide what becomes of them.”

As reported in the newspaper, in a bid to be among those who testify in church to speedy progress, four members of the church engaged in what the police suspect is fraudulent in the micro finance bank, popularly known as ‘Parralex’, established in the church’s premises in Lagos. These persons allegedly diverted over N60m into two dedicated personal accounts and shared it.

The bubble burst when operatives of the SFU, Lagos swooped on them. The suspects were alleged to have opened several accounts with the bank, using fake names. The fraudulent account was used to divert the money. They were alleged to have debited the bank’s general ledger and transferred same sum of money to the various fraudulent accounts. This act which started in 2008, continued till 2009 when the fraud was detected.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have condemned the act, blaming the church for deceiving these people into stealing in the name of God.

Some Nigerians who felt scandalized about this sordid development in the house of God reacted accordingly

Sekuru Gora said he is yet to understand how these churches manage to brainwash people to lose their minds. “They prey on peoples greed. The suspects were aware that what they were doing was wrong. They were encouraged by the pastor to get rich quickly by latching at existing opportunities. Prosperity gospel is nothing other than legalized thievery. Religion has been abused especially by these Pentecostal churches. I for one will never be fooled by some greedy men of God to enrich them at any cost. I don’t need to go to church to do well and live a good life. I work hard and help a lot of people, something that most of these churches don’t do.”

On his own part, Kunle, lashed out at the suspects for asking pastor Chris to forgive them instead of blaming them for their act. “Are they not aware that it is the twisted get rich quick gospel that their pastor has been preaching to them that pushes most of his church members to engage in illicit and criminal activities? I am even made to understand that most of the prostitutes in Ikeja attend CEC. What is the church’s business in setting up a micro finance bank in the first instance? Personally I think Pastor Chris should be held accountable for this fraud as he is in the business of breeding criminals.”

While some are blaming the act on Pastor Chris others are of the view that everyman is accountable for his own sin, as Pastor Chris never encouraged them to steal.

Steven asked the suspects to admit that it was their greed not Pastor Chris’s message that led them to steal. “Some people in a congregation steal and blame it on the message they heard. Did the message say go and steal? Their greed for quick wealth led them to do what they did and does not in any way invalidate the message and the existence of members that are obedient to the dictates of the word of God in the same congregation.”

Adebayo Ogunsaya called on the critics of Pastor Chris to listen to his messages and pinpoint where he encourages anyone to steal. “One of the things he emphasized early this year is that the year will not favour a man with criminal tendencies. He said doors of prosperity would be shut against people with such character. He said some people didn’t know that some doors have been shut against them already by criminality. He even went as far as saying that if any one has supplies to do in a contract, minimize the gain, such one should not inflate the amount beyond proportion. You should get to hear his teachings yourself than all these hearsays of yours. Pastor Christ is a balanced teacher and can never condone criminality. If he teaches on prosperity, its only because its scriptural. Paul and Jesus taught on prosperity too. So will you blame Jesus for the criminality of Judas?”

Chioma Onwubiko threw a poser to Christians who are busy condemning Christ Embassy. She asked: “Now for you Christians that worship in the “Perfect Church”, I have this question for you: “Can you beyond reasonable doubt proclaim that the church where you worship is 100% free of those that steal, those that fornicate, those that lie, those that commit murder, those that covet, those that harbour hatred against others, those that commit adultery, love-peddlers, etc”?

“Can you vouch for every member of that your “Perfect Church”, that every single one of them is obedient to every single dictates of the word of God? Can you?”

Very Good Question indeed !