2 pastors given 7-year jail terms for stealing N32m

Two pastors, Pastor Glory Okeoghene Abrefera and Reverend Vincent Okpogu, have been sentenced to seven years in prison for stealing the sum of N32m.

According to a press statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Glory Okeoghene Abrefera and Vincent Okpogu were arrested after deceiving unsuspicious members of the public into investing in Mustard Seed Micro Investment Limited, a wonder bank, and defrauded them of their hard-earned money.

When they were arrested, there were initially charged with a four-count charge bordering on operating a wonder bank called Mustard Seed Micro Investment Limited and was convicted and sentenced to ten years imprisonment by Justice I. N. Buba of the Federal High Court Asaba in January 2013.

While serving their 10-year sentences, there were also hit with a nine-count charge bordering on stealing and embezzlement of fund. Justice F. O Ohwo of Delta State High Court, Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday, December 10, convicted and sentenced the duo to seven years imprisonment.

Glory Okeoghene and Vincent Okpogu were found guilty and convicted of all of the nine count charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and sentenced to seven years imprisonment on each count. The sentence is to run concurrently.

Judge F.O Ohwo has also ordered that the convicts will serve the seven-year term at Okere Prisons in Warri, Delta State, after completing the ten years sentence they are currently serving for illegal banking.

The prosecutor, Mr. G. K. Latona, has also revealed that the convicts are still answering to other charges at Otor-Udu High Court for related offences.