Pastor And Wife Jailed For 10 Years For Stealing ₦52m Through Their Church
The Ikeja Special Offenses Court has sentenced Pastor Harry Uyanwanne and his wife, Kristen, to ten years in prison for embezzling N52 million through Temple International Church.
Justice Mojisola Dada convicted the couple of seven fraud and theft charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ruling on Wednesday. Additionally, the court mandated their church’s deregistration and permanent closure.
According to the charges, which the EFCC filed in February 2020, the couple embezzled N10 million from Mrs. Adeola Odemuyiwa, who passed away. Additionally, they used false pretenses to sell a property in Magodo, Lagos, for N42 million, claiming Pastor Harry had the authority to do so.
Pastor Harry was given concurrent sentences of three years for the first charge and seven years for charges two through six by Justice Dada. On the seventh charge, Kristen was found not guilty. The couple was also mandated by the court to reimburse the complainant N31 million within 60 days.
According to the EFCC, their actions were against the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2011 and the 2006 Advance Fee Fraud Act.
The growing efforts to address financial misconduct among religious leaders are highlighted by this case.
