RCCG’s guard arraigned for allegedly impersonating Adeboye

A security guard with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Awobola Babatunde, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the defendant was alleged to have opened a bank account in the name of the General Overseer of the church, Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

The accused, 32, whose address is unknown, is facing a four count of stealing, impersonation, conspiracy, and attempting to fraudulently cash a cheque of N600,000.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the prosecutor, Insp. Aighoi Gbemileke, the accused, with others at large, committed the offences on June 6 on Redemption Way, Ebute Meta, at 9am.

He said the accused stole a Fidelity Bank cheque valued at N600,000 belonging to Adeboye.

“The accused falsely presented himself as Pastor Adeboye by opening a savings account at Aguda, Surulere branch of Fidelity Bank in his (Adeboye) name.

“He opened the account in order to cash the cheque and convert the money to personal use.

“Babatunde also opened the account in order to be stealing money from the church as they plan to pay in more cheques,” Gbemileke alleged.

He said the offences violated sections 285, 378, 404 and 408 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Bola Folarin-Williams, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties, she said, must be blood relations of the accused and must produce evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government, as part of the bail conditions.The case was adjourned till August  4.