Justice Sherifat Solebo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court has fixed November 19 for ruling on the bail application of the founder of Power of the Holy Ghost Evangelical Ministry aka Tuesday Tuesday Church, Shoba, Abule-Ado, Lagos, Prophet Cletus Ilongwo.
He is facing trial for allegedly defrauding members of N54.5 million.
During resumed proceedings yesterday, Prophet Ilongwo’s new counsel, Titilola Akinlawon (SAN), urged the court to admit the defendant to bail in a most liberal term.
She said Ilongwo has health problems and has not been convicted of any criminal charge.
Prosecution counsel Ahmed Yerima, however, objected to his bail, arguing that the defendant cannot be trusted.
He alleged that Prophet Ilongo was a flight risk, adding that he jumped the administrative bail granted him at the anti-graft commission.
Yerima urged the court to decline his request.
Reacting to the objection of the prosecution, Akinlawon told the court that the defendant did not jump bail, but rather filed a civil case before the Lagos State High Court against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in respect of the matter.
She said: “The respondent in the affidavit said the defendant jumped the bail granted him at the commission, but failed to tell the court that in the interim, the defendant filed a civil case against them in respect of the matter. So it is wrong for them to say that if the defendant is granted bail, he will not return for trial.
“I submit that the defendant, a man of God with over 3000 members in his congregation, will as a matter of necessity, show good leadership by returning to this court for his trial.
“I will urge my Lord to use his discretion in favour of the defendant to grant him bail on a liberal term.”
Justice Solebo adjourned till November 19 for the ruling on the bail application and commencement of trial.
Prophet Ilongwo is facing an 11-count charge preferred against him by the EFCC before Justice Solebo.
According to the EFCC, Ilongwo committed the offences between January and April 2016.
In one of the charges, Ilongwo allegedly collected N13. 5million from Obinna Ezenwaka on the pretext that he would help him purchase a property at 165c, Diamond Estate, Amuwo Odofin.
He was further accused of collecting N10million from Ezenwaka also on the pretext of purchasing the same property, but, however, failed to do so.
The defendant was alleged to have at various times collected N10million, N7million, N3million and N150,000 from Ezenwaka through his Zenith Bank account 1003455899.
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