Justice Nathan Musa of a High Court in Yola, Adamawa State, has sentenced the accountant of Ekliyisar Yanuwa’a Nigeria (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), Mr. Ibrahim Aku, to 18 years imprisonment for defrauding the church of N15.5m.
Church records showed that Aku committed the act between 2016 and 2018.
His trial and subsequent conviction followed a petition written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the secretary general of the church, Rev. Dr Daniel Mbaya.
Mbaya said the embezzled funds were part of contributions generated from church members’ offerings, donations and tithes.
Justice Musa, who delivered judgment on the six counts bordering on forgery and obtaining money by false pretence, said: “The accused person is hereby sentenced to three-year imprisonment on each count, which is to run concurrently without an option of fine.”
Speaking shortly after the verdict, Mr Bello Bajoga of the Public Affairs Department of the EFCC said the commission was happy with the judgment.
