Pastor arraigned over N100m Lekki land scam

THE last may not have been heard about the lingering N100 million land fraud that rocked Lekki Re-settlement Scheme in Eti-Osa Local Council, Lagos State, with the arrest of Pastor Felix Olu Fadare of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Fullers Field Parish, in Ajah, over his alleged involvement in the scam.

Fadare was arrested and charged with fraud under the Criminal Code before Igbosere Magistrate’s Court by the Special Fraud Unit, SFU.

He was arrested in his hideout after the police trailed him following a petition against him by one of the victims, Kehinde Ola.

According to the police, Fadare allegedly conspired with Adeola Ajidahun and defrauded Kehinde Ola to the tune of N30 million under the false pretense of selling some plots of land at the resettlement site.

Ajidahun, who resides at 89, Karimu Laka Street, Egbeda area of Lagos, and Fadare allegedly brandished fake documents to convince Ola and later took him to the area in Lekki and showed him the parcels of land.

Ola, who did not suspect any foul play, paid for the land through his bank. Unknown to Ola, the land sold to him belonged to another family in the area.

Investigators revealed that Ola was not the only person Ajidahun and Fadare allegedly defrauded over the land. Another victim, Tony Ezeoke, also lost over N10 million on the same land. Ezeoke was sold a parcel of the land marked by the state government as road leading to the area.

During investigation, the police also discovered that the suspects had allegedly swindled many other victims and was using Fadare as estate agent to defraud victims. Fadare was arrested last week and charged to court with conspiracy, obtaining under false pretense and stealing under the Criminal Code.

When Fadare was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs A. O. Awogboro, admitted Fadare on bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum. The court also ordered that the sureties must provide evidence of tax payments for three years.

Fadare was remanded in prison custody at Ikoyi pending when he will perfect his bail condition. The matter was adjourned till February 3, 2016.