By SUNNY OKIM

Justice Ayodele Faji of Court 4, Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has sent the charge of fraud brought before him against three prominent members of the Celestial Church of Christ namely, John Rotimi Omotosho (Jorotom), Folashade Ogundipe, Boye Olaniyan and Folafunmi Integrated Limited, a limited liability company belonging to the second defendant, Folashade Ogundipe, back to the Administrative Judge for re-assignment. The Judge cited personal reasons for his action.

The defendants John Rotimi Omotosho, Folashade Ogundipe, Boye Olaniyan and Folafunmi Integrated Limited were arraigned before Justice Ayodele Faji in a suit filed against them by the Inspector General of Police.

The three defendants were accused of defrauding the church’s headquarters at Imeko, Ogun State of the sum of N85,914,500 (Eighty Five Million, Nine Hundred and Fourteen Thousand and Five Hundred Naira) under false pretence of using the money for the church’s development.

In carrying out the alleged fraud, the police stated that the defendants issued several Zenith Bank Plc cheques, which they used in withdrawing the money from the church’s development project account with the bank.

The offences, according to the police are contrary to Sections 8(a), 1(1)(a) and 1(1)(a) &(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010 punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

Citing personal reasons for his action, Justice Ayodele Faji sent the case to the Administrative Judge who in turn re-assigned the charge to Justice Nicholas Oweibo of Court 11, Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The defendants will be re-arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo and fresh pleas taken at a date to be communicated to the parties. This was confirmed on Friday March 6, 2020 by the Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Ijeoma C.J., a Chief Superintendent of Police (C.S.P).