Pastor arrested for diverting Church’s N15m for his Ph.D and secretly enlisting his wife on Church’s payroll. .

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday arraigned Omosebi Fred Adeola before Justice A.O Otaluka of the Federal High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of funds to the tune of N15,619,000.

Adeola, a Pastor of the Adventist Church and Country Director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency of Nigeria, allegedly diverted the Church’s relief funds for personal use, including paying for his Ph.D programme in Babcock University and illegally enlisted his wife on the Church’s payroll.

The pastor, who was an employee and the Country Director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency of Nigeria, and a signatory to the various bank accounts of the Agency, allegedly committed the crime in December 2017, in Abuja.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges. And Justice Otaluka granted him bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident in Abuja, have a property worth N10 million and provide address of residence.

They are also required to provide Identity cards, passport photographs and N3 million as Bond. The case was adjourned till September 30, 2021 for trial.