Pastor Arrested for Swindling Member

EFCC has arrested a self proclaimed pastor, ThankGod Udechukwu, founder of Jesus the General Outreach Ministry based in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, for alleged swindling of a kinsman and member of his church.

Udechukwu, who hails from Ozalla, Enugu State, was arrested by the EFCC, Enugu Zonal Office on 23 May. He reportedly took advantage of one of his kinsmen who trusted him as a ‘Man of God’.

“I am his pastor and man of God, in fact, I used to pray for him to succeed and indeed, I prayed for him before he travelled out to Dubai,” he said.

According to the victim and complainant, his ordeal started with a suggestion that he hands over to him four Toyota Highlander SUVs he imported, claiming that one of his church members was willing to buy the vehicles and other consignments valued at N16 million.

The pastor helped himself to a huge part of the proceeds, claiming it was for logistics. Later, the pastor mooted the idea of starting a transport services business and suggested to the Dubai-based businessman to buy two Sienna buses to kick it off.

As if under a spell, the complainant still agreed to the business idea. With no returns from the transport business, the complainant instructed the suspect to sell off the two buses.

Udechukwu sold one of the buses and converted the proceed to his personal use. Some months after, the pastor further suggested a business to the complainant and introduced him to one Amechi Chuks Amechi who claimed to work with Nigeria Breweries and that he could assist in securing a dealership from the company.

He claimed the deal would cost the complainant N2.37m, which he transferred to Amechi’s company account.

The petitioner, who had hoped to use part of the proceeds from his investments to start some businesses here in Nigeria, was totally devastated when on coming home, he discovered nothing was done.
.
Investigation revealed that he used the monies in all the businesses to expand his church buildings and take care of personal issues.