PASTOR GLORY ABREFERA LETF,AND REV. VINCENT OKPOGO
: partners in scam
A Nigerian High Court has sentenced two ‘men of
God’, Pastor Glory Abrefera and Reverend Vincent Okpogo to 10 years
imprisonment each over a N1 billion deposit scam.
Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in
Asaba, capital of Delta state, found the duo and their company, Mustard Seed
Micro Investment Limited guilty on a four count charge of carrying out banking
practice without licence.
The accused persons were said to have collected
over N1 billion from different individuals and organizations as deposits in an
illegal banking practice.
They have also failed to account for all the deposits
they collected.
Mustard Seed Micro Investment Limited was convicted
on two counts and fined N2 million on each of the counts. Pastor Abrefera and
Reverend Okpogo, both directors of Mustard Seed Micro Investment limited, were
also convicted on two counts and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each.
They were equally fined N2 million on each of the
counts.
The terms are to run concurrently.
The accused persons were said to have sometimes
between 2006 and 2007 at Warri, Delta State engaged in banking practice without
the required banking license and thereby committed an offence contrary to
section 2(2) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B3, Vol 2,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Part of the charge reads:
“that Pastor Glory Okeoghene Abrefera, Reverend Vincent Okpogo and Mrs Nonye
Abrefera (still at large) whilst being directors of Mustard Seed Micro
Investment Limited sometime between 2006 and 2007 at Warri, Delta State within
the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court knowingly consented to the carrying
on of banking business without a valid licence by the company thereby committed
an offence contrary to Section (2) and 49(1)of the Banks and other Financial
Institutions Act Cap B(3), Vol 2, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.
The so-called men of God were arrested following a
petition filed by some of the depositors to the EFCC, detailing the dubious
activities of the accused persons.
The EFCC subsequently intervened, investigated the
activities of the voodoo bank and arraigned the suspects in 2011.
Counsel to EFCC, G. K. Latona described the
judgment as a milestone in the Nigerian judiciary.
He said it was the first time that persons were
convicted for carrying out banking practice without the required licence.
He said the judgment would serve as a deterrent to
other persons engaging in such nefarious activities
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