Court orders pastor’s trial over alleged N29m fraud

An Enugu High Court has directed the police to arraign the General Overseer, City of Jesus International Ministry (COJIM), Pastor Christopher Orji, in court for alleged fraud.

Hon. Justice Okey Anike of the Agbani High Court dismissed an application brought by the pastor seeking to stop the police from investigating allegations against him by a Nigerian woman based in the United Kingdom, Dr Anyaegbunam A.

In the matter with Suit No: HAGB/ 50M/ 2021, the pastor prayed the court to enforce his fundamental rights by stopping the police from investigating him on allegations brought to the police by the woman, who alleged that the applicant obtained several gifts and donations from her in the name of his church using misrepresentation of facts, fraud, deceit and undue influence.

Trouble started when Dr Anyaegbunam returned to Nigeria for a burial and decided to visit Pastor Orji, where she “received the shock of her life” upon realising that she had been swindled in the name of God. The reality she saw on ground was the opposite of the videos and information she was being fed while abroad about COJIM and its non-existent charity home.

Pastor Orji was said to be so shocked that he refused to see Dr Anyaegbunam – his benefactor who supposedly has ‘donated’ about N29 million and a new Sienna car to the supposed man of God, so as to help in his charity work.

According to police investigation report, “Realizing that the woman (5th respondent) left their make-shift shanty, in utter disappointment and very disgusted, the said applicant started using all sorts of gimmicks to reach the applicant including threat to her life.

“Subsequently, the woman made a demand to the man of God, and requested for the return of all her supposed donations including her computers, Laptops and Sienna which were obtained by false pretense, deceit, fraud and misrepresentation of facts to her.

“This demand did not go down well with the said Pastor, who conspired with his cabals to report Dr Anyaegbunam to Okija Shrine, and all sorts of threat and invitation where meted to her; including telling her that she will die in 15 days time.

“Consequently, she reported to the Nigerian Police Force who invited the said Pastor Christopher Orji and obtained his statement.”

But rather than resolving the issue, Pastor Orji headed for High Court Agbani Judicial Division to institute Suit No: HAGB/ 50M/2021 praying the court to enforce his fundamental rights, by restraining police from investigating his matter, which he claims is a civil matter,  and for police to be stopped from inviting him.

In response, Dr Anyaegbunam engaged the services of a fiery Enugu lawyer, Chief Sir OAU Onyema, of Akpaagu Chambers.

In its judgement the court noted that while it is not the duty of the police to arrest the Applicant in connection with returning the goods which is civil matter between Pastor- member relationship, that the Police should Charge/arraign the Pastor, if there are prima facie evidence of crime, as the police alluded in their counter affidavit; and as such serve him arraignment Notice to appear in court for criminal proceeding.

Counsel to the applicant Chief Sir OAU Onyema, whose brief was held in court by Sarah Okonkwo Esq, maintained that they have long filed and served the said Pastor civil claims at the Enugu State High Court in suit no E/217/2022 for civil remedies and for return of the materials including the Sienna car, and that due applications has been filed for the entire materials to be brought under the courts custody bending the determination of the substantive suit.