Months after losing about N12 million to a fraudulent bank staffer and an account officer of the church, Ameh Cyril Idakwoji, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Wednesday, brought another relief to the church , when the full amount was recovered from the suspects and returned to the pastor of the church at an event held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Mr. Ishaq Salihu, South- South Zonal Head of the EFCC, in Port Harcourt, at the event handed over the money to one of the Regional Ministers of the Church, Pastor Mark Barango.
The EFCC said the amount was stolen by Idakwoji, in a web of fraudulent diversion and suppression of the finances of the church.
We learnt that troubles started for Idakwoji when Access Bank Plc petitioned the EFCC about some missing funds in the accounts of one of its corporate customers in Port Harcourt.
The customer, Jepthah International School, East- West Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, could not access N37million in its account with the bank.
The bank via investigation traced the scam to one of its staff, Idakwoji and named him the mastermind of the fraudulent dealings.
Idakwoji doubled as the Account Officer of Jepthah International School and Redeemed Christian Church of God, Region 5, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The suspect defrauded the RCCG by suppressing and diverting cheques and cash meant for the Church to cover his shady deals in Jepthah International School.
He was said to be covering up by giving fake statements of accounts to both the school and the church.
We gathered further that, to execute his criminal schemes in RCCG, he forged the letter heads of the church’s Region 5 and the signatures of the pastor in charge of the Region.
He also said to have forged the signature of the church’s accountant and attached same to the August 2017 Salary Schedule of Jepthah International School to the tune of N7, 129, 128. 78.
But the Church denied giving instruction for the payment of the salary of the school. Investigations by the commission uncovered all the criminal movements of the fund of the church by Idakwoji and a sum of N11, 987, 844.11 found to have been stolen have now been recovered and returned to the church.
Receiving the recovered sum, Pastor Barango, commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for being ” an agent of transformation.
“My impression with the work of the EFCC is that it is perfect, perfect, perfect. The EFCC is an agent of transformation. Their work is perfect and the church is grateful that the money is returned to us,” Barango said.
Recalled that a sum of N36 million recovered from Idakwoji, was returned to the management of Jepthah International School by the EFCC in September.
While presenting the money to the church, Salihu emphasized the commitment of the EFCC to bursting any financial and economic scam, no matter how complex.
He reiterated the zero- tolerance of the Commission for corrupt practices and warned criminal elements in the country to desist from fraudulent practices.
“Crime and criminality are not limited to any group of people. They have no creed, no gender and no religion. The RCCG is a large church and we are pleased to have been able to recover the stolen money for the church,” he said.
Pastor Barango who was appreciative of the gesture promised that the church will continue to pray for the continued success of the Commission.
