By Abiola Olawale
A Lagos State Special Offences court, Ikeja has sentenced Pastor Afolabi Samuel of the Living Faith Church, otherwise known as Winners’ Chapel, to three years’ imprisonment over stealing of $90,000 and N4.5m, church funds.
Samuel, who is an accountant and the church’s treasurer, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
While delivering her judgment, Justice Mojisola Dada, the presiding Judge of court, found Samuel guilty of the charges against him. Therefore, the judge, sentenced Samuel to serve a three-year imprisonment term on the ground that he contravened sections 278, 285 and 490 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No. 11, 2011.
While pleading to the court, Rotimi Ogunwuyi, counsel for Samuel, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, on the ground that his client is the bread-winner of his family.
Ogunwuyi stated that the convict had realised his mistakes, which made him to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.
Following the appeal from Samuel’s counsel, Justice Dada granted him an option of fine of N1m and ordered him to refund the sum of $90,000 and N2,358,000 to the church.
It would be recalled that the EFCC arraigned Pastor Samuel and one Blessing Kolawole, an employee of the Covenant University, for conspiring to steal the funds of the church and converted the same for their personal use.
