N620m fraud: Prosecution’s absence delays Baptist church pastor’s arraignment.

The absence of the prosecution counsel on Thursday delayed the arraignment of Rev. Israel Akanji, a former resident pastor of First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja, and five others over an alleged N620 million fraud.

The defendants were set to appear before Justice J. A. Aina of the FCT High Court, Kwali, in case CR/1045/24, prosecuted by the police. However, Justice Aina announced that the prosecution had requested an adjournment, citing the lead counsel’s engagement at the National Assembly. Defence counsel Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) expressed surprise, stating that his clients were prepared for trial.Akintola also noted that the prosecution failed to serve the defence with the adjournment request.He further informed the court of a pending application seeking to quash the charges against the defendants.

Justice Aina acknowledged that the prosecution’s request was properly filed but granted the adjournment with a warning that the defence must be formally notified of such applications in the future.The case was adjourned to May 27, 2025, for arraignment.

Akanji, along with Rev. Thomas Ekugbene Takpatore, Mr. Babatunde Adebayo, Mrs. Adenike Adebayo, Mr. Oladele Afolabi, and Mrs. Gloria Olotu, faces charges of conspiracy, forgery, and criminal misappropriation of church funds.According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2021 to commit a felony, violating Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The prosecution further claims that between 2012 and 2021, the defendants forged an amended version of the church’s constitution, falsely attributing it to the late Barrister Akin Aina, the church’s former legal adviser and Board of Trustees secretary. This act, they argue, contravenes Sections 362 and 364 of the Penal Code.

Additionally, the prosecution claimed the defendants misappropriated N620 million belonging to the church, converting the funds for personal use—offences that fall under Sections 308, 309, 311, and 312 of the Penal Code, which deal with criminal breach of trust and fraudulent conversion of property.

The prosecution, led by Wisdom Madaki, also alleged that the forged church constitution was fraudulently used in 2022, an offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code.