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Na wa o ! New Formats everyday for Fraudsters

Five persons who claimed to be pastors are currently in the custody of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly operating an illegal military outfit.

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They were also accused of unlawful possession of Nigerian Army uniforms with badges of ranks.

The suspects include Bishop Macrran Ransome; Rev. Al-Hassan Emmanuel; Bishop Raymond Bakeh; Prophet Sunday Ofordu; and Robinson Igbarumah.

The command's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, told journalists on Tuesday that the suspects were accused of running a military outfit known as Go Army.

Mba, a superintendent of police, said the suspects were arrested by the Military Police, Nigerian Army, Arakan Barracks, Lagos and were handed over to the command for further investigation and prosecution.

As at the time of their arrest, they were said to be wearing military uniforms with badges of ranks ranging from Lt.Col. to Maj.-Gen. and were in possession of identity cards bearing military ranks.

Ransome, who claimed to be the group's Commandant-General and goes by the rank of "Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel," told journalists that the outfit was established to provide service to humanity.

He said he lured others into the group with the claim that he had the backing of the Director of Chaplain Service (Protestant) of the Nigerian Army and that the group would afford them the opportunity to sharpen their pastoral skills.

He was allegedly using the auditorium of his church, The Apostolic Christian Chapel, Itire, Lagos, for military training for members every Saturday.

Other suspects, who spoke with journalists, confirmed that Ransome fooled them into joining the group.

They claimed that he had realised over N4m, especially from the over 50 members of the group that were made to part with between N70,000 and N80,000 for registration and kits.

They alleged that trouble started when they suspected that he was not saying the truth about the involvement of the military in the programme and they decided to approach the said Directorate to ascertain the true position of things.

Apart from being a clergyman, Igbarumah claimed to be a chartered accountant and the managing partner of an accounting firm, Robinson Igbarumah and Co.

U.S. probes two Nigerian pastors

By Ike Nnamdi, The Sun reporter, New York

this Story was carried out in 2006 see link http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2007/11/18/senate-panel-probes-top-us-evangelists-cen-111607-p-6/

There was no mention of any naija pastor .Our investigations revealed this was a complete rehash of the news by the Daily Sun coming in the wake of Benny hinns Divorce

Two of Nigeria’s most popular televangelists are among six high profile preachers under investigation by American authorities for making false miracle claims and allegedly spending church funds without approval.

The probe is headed by Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, over whether the pastors complied with IRS rules for nonprofit’s. The tax exempt non - profits are not allowed to spend funds for non - religious purposes but Grassely has accused the pastors of dipping their hands in church funds to maintain lavish life styles, including luxury private jets and summer homes.

The Nigerian pastor include a prosperity preacher whose members include some serving and former heads of state and another with high profile government officials as members. He recently bought a personal jet. Senate sources said the probe was launched when members of their American branches petitioned the authorities over the use of church funds by the men of God.

The investigation may have claimed its first victim as the wife of televangelist Benny Hinn filed for divorce from the high-profile pastor, whose reputation as an advocate of prosperity gospel has attracted millions of followers and criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups over his lavish lifestyle. Suzanne Hinn filed the papers in Orange County Florida Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage.

The papers noted the two separated on January 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County. “Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news without any previous notice,” Benny Hinn Ministries said in a statement. “Although Pastor Hinn has faithfully endeavored to bring healing to their relationship, those efforts failed and were met with the petition for divorce that was filed without notice,” the statement said.

Hinn is one of the best known advocates of the prosperity gospel, which teaches that Christians who are right with God will be rewarded with wealth and health in this lifetime. His TV broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcast Network, a Pentecostal broadcasting juggernaut, and other TV networks are seen by millions of people around the world nearly everyday. He travels the globe in his ministry’s plane, named Dove One, holding events he calls “Miracle Crusades” that include spiritual healings.

Hinn has never fully publicly disclosed how he spends the money he raises, but his vast ministry is believed to be a multimillion-dollar operation. There was no mention of finances in the court filing, which listed three recent Southern California addresses for the family. Over the years, Hinn has been the target of intense criticism from fellow Christians and watchdog groups who call his teachings false and accuse him of raising money only to enrich himself.