Man Arrested For Duping Winners Chapel Of N77million

The Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday
February 19, 2015 arraigned one Chief Felix Ogbebor before Justice B.
O. Quadri of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, on 8-count charge
bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money by false
pretence to the tune of Seventy Seven Million Naira (N77, 000,
0000.00).

The accused allegedly obtained the sum of Seventy Seven Million Naira
from the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Stadium Road branch,
Port Harcourt for twelve and half plots of land situated at Uyo
Street, Rumumasi and Port Harcourt

He allegedly presented several forged documents to support the claim
of ownership of the said land. But the unsuspecting church which
wanted the land to build its new worship center paid the sum of
Seventy Seven Million Naira (N77, 000,000.000) to the accused.

However, when they attempted to take possession of the land, they were
stopped. One Professor Ebi Awotua Efebo came with documents, showing
that the land in question belongs to him. The documents showed that he
bought the land from one Chief Nelson Chukwu as far back as 1990.

One of the counts read, "that you Chief Felix Ogbebor sometime in
March, 2011 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of
Seventy Seven Million Naira (N77,000,000.00) only from the registered
trustees of Living Church (Winners Chapel, Stadium Road, Port
Harcourt) being payment made to you as owner of the piece of land
lying and situate along Uyo street (Ohia Mini Apu), Rumuomasi, Obio
Akpo Local Government Area of Rivers State, measuring an area of
4211.769sq.m, a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an
offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and
Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1
(3) of the same Act".

He, however, pleaded not guilty.
In view of the plea of the defendant, the prosecuting counsel, J.N
Dogonyaro asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the
accused in the EFCC custody. But defence counsel, R.E. Wanogho
formally presented a bail application and urged the court to grant the
accused bail.

Justice Quadri adjourned the matter to February 24, 2015 for ruling on
bail application and remanded the accused in EFCC custody.
--infonaija