“Pastor” defrauds victim of N1.3m in Bayelsa
An alleged fake pastor, James Ezekiel, has been arrested for allegedly defrauding an unsuspecting victim of N1.3m sum.
Ezekiel, the EFCC alleges, deceived his victim to enlist as one of the “financiers” of a spurious contract in the sum of N1.8 billion.
Ezekiel allegedly paraded himself as the “Presiding Pastor of One Touch Power Ministry” in Bayelsa State, and claimed to have won a contract for the roofing of a church cathedral belonging to the Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He reportedly put the contract sum at N1.8 billion and showed a contract award letter to his victim.
Ezekiel also allegedly convinced his victim to collaborate with him as one of the “financiers” of the contract, while promising mouth-watering interests on his “investment”.
Troubles came for Ezekiel when the victim demanded a repayment of his money with the interests.
EFCC’s investigations showed that Ezekiel delayed making payments to his victim by deceiving him that he had been paid the sum of N800 million only as mobilization fees for the contract but could not access the funds because “his company’s account had been frozen by the EFCC”.
He also allegedly contrived a fake EFCC’s e-mail message notifying him of the freezing of the account. The victim sensed foul play and petitioned the EFCC.
Further investigations showed that the Salvation Ministries did not award any contract to Ezekiel and no transfer of N800 million was made into his company’s account.
Besides, the e-mail address he ascribed to the EFCC does not belong to the Commission.
He allegedly initiated the scam to fraudulently obtain money from unsuspecting victims.
He would be charged to court soon.
