Bebe Akinboade

MAN USES ADEBOYE’S PROJECT TO SWINDLE INVESTORS

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A self-proclaimed architect, Opeyemi Oluwole, has
been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly using a building
project proposed by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of
God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to dupe scores of people.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Adeboye had announced during
the church’s December Holy Ghost Service titled ‘Signs and Wonders’ that the
church had a challenge of accommodation.

He had said, “The dormitories we have are many but
are not enough for the number of people that attend our programmes so we need
people to join us in building extra 2,000 dormitories in order to reduce the
number of people sleeping on bare floor in the church auditorium.

“The dormitories, we are hoping, would be ready
before the next congress and anyone willing to help should get across to us.”

According to police authorities, Oluwole, under the
pretext of building the dormitories for the church, tricked many people into
paying money into his bank account.

Our correspondent learnt that the monies collected
from victims ranged from N250, 000 to N2.5m.

It was learnt that the suspect however ran out of
luck after he approached a member of one of the parishes of RCCG. It was learnt that the member immediately reported
the matter to the Ketu Police Division. The member, who craved anonymity, said the suspect
had told his victims that he had been given the contract by the RCCG to build
the dormitories.

He said, “Oluwole approached me, saying he had been
given the mandate to build the dormitories and that some companies had bid for
the contract. He said some of the companies that won were not financially
capable of constructing the dormitories so he was sub-contracting it.

“He said we would handle the contracts but would
have to use the names of the companies that originally won the bid and we would
get our money afterwards. He gave us his bank account number and told us to pay
N250, 000 as the initial fee for registration.

“However, I contacted the Project department of the
RCCG and they said they did not give Oluwole any contract. They even checked
past records and his name did not appear in the files.”

When the police wrote the RCCG headquarters, the
church denied knowing the suspect.

In a letter addressed to the police, the church’s
legal department stated that it was ready to pursue the case to a logical
conclusion. The church also stated that it was not possible for
building project to be executed without the knowledge of the project
department.

The suspect however denied the allegation, insisting
that he had indeed been given the contract by Pastor Adeboye to construct the
dormitories.

He said, “Baba (Adeboye) told me to go ahead with the
dormitories. The agreement was verbal and there is no written document. Some
people gave me money for the drawings of the buildings. Others loaned me
money.”

Oluwole alleged that he and Adeboye had entered into
a secret arrangement on the building project without the knowledge of the
church authorities. A police source, who craved anonymity, said the
suspect was arrested a few weeks ago but was later granted bail. The suspect however absconded soon after, making it
difficult for the police to carry out investigations.

The police were however able to re-arrest him last
Friday.

 

 

 
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