Ayodeji Olulusi Adebolu, an Ondo State-based pastor, has been apprehended by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly defrauding a woman of N1,280,000.

Mr Adebolu, who defrauded Taiwo Opesanmi, was nabbed by NSCDC operatives in Akure. 

In a statement, a spokesperson for the NSCDC, Daniel Aidamenbor, accused the pastor of collecting the sum from Mrs Opesanmi under the guise of helping her secure a job at NNPC between 2019 and 2020.

Mr Aidamenbor revealed that Mrs Opesanmi met the cleric at a prayer mountain somewhere at Ijoka in Akure through a referral.

“The Pastor (Ayodeji Olulusi Adebolu), 43 years of number 1, Ore Ofe, Irese road Akure was arrested for defrauding Mrs Taiwo Opesanmi of the sum of One Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira ( N1, 280,000),” Mr Aidamenbor said in the statement obtained by Peoples Gazette on Monday. 

He further alleged that Mr Adebolu became incommunicado after collecting the money from Mrs Opesanmi, noting that the counter terrorism unit of the NSCDC was able to track down the suspect with the cooperation of a commercial bank. 

“At the point of the investigation, another victim of the pastor also accused him of selling a land to her using a fake deed of gift for Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N800,000). She had to pay another one million naira (N1,000,000) to the rightful owner of the land since she already had a structure on it,” he added. 

Mr Aidamenbor, however, added that the suspect, who already made a written confessional statement, would soon be charged to court after breaching section 419 of the Criminal Code Act. 

“The suspect already made a written confessional statement and will have his day in court at the completion of investigation for breaching Section 419 of the Criminal code Act,” he added.