Man Arrested For Duping Winners Chapel Of N77million

The Economics and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, on Thursday February 19,
2015 arraigned one Chief Felix Ogbebor
before Justice B. O. Quadri of the Federal High
Court, Port Harcourt, on 8-count charge
bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and
obtaining money by false pretence to the tune
of Seventy Seven Million Naira (N77, 000,
0000.00).
The accused allegedly obtained the sum of
Seventy Seven Million Naira from the Living
Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Stadium Road
branch, Port Harcourt for twelve and half
plots of land situated at Uyo Street, Rumumasi
and Port Harcourt
He allegedly presented several forged
documents to support the claim of ownership
of the said land. But the unsuspecting church
which wanted the land to build its new
worship center paid the sum of Seventy Seven
Million Naira (N77, 000,000.000) to the
accused.
However, when they attempted to take
possession of the land, they were stopped. One
Professor Ebi Awotua Efebo came with
documents, showing that the land in question
belongs to him. The documents showed that he
bought the land from one Chief Nelson
Chukwu as far back as 1990.
One of the counts read, “that you Chief Felix
Ogbebor sometime in March, 2011 at Port
Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court, with intent to defraud, did
obtain the sum of Seventy Seven Million Naira
(N77,000,000.00) only from the registered
trustees of Living Church (Winners Chapel,
Stadium Road, Port Harcourt) being payment
made to you as owner of the piece of land
lying and situate along Uyo street (Ohia Mini
Apu), Rumuomasi, Obio Akpo Local
Government Area of Rivers State, measuring
an area of 4211.769sq.m, a pretext you knew
to be false and thereby committed an offence
contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance
Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences
Act 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of
the same Act”.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
In view of the plea of the defendant, the
prosecuting counsel, J.N Dogonyaro asked for
a trial date and prayed the court to remand
the accused in the EFCC custody. But defence
counsel, R.E. Wanogho formally presented a
bail application and urged the court to grant
the accused bail.
Justice Quadri adjourned the matter to
February 24, 2015 for ruling on bail
application and remanded the accused in
EFCC custody.