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EFCC Recovers N11.9m For Redeemed Church
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has recovered the sum of N11.9m stolen from Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, by a fraudulent banker.
Mr. Ishaq Salihu, South- South Zonal Head of the EFCC, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State handed over the money to the church on Wednesday with a commendation given to the anti-graft Commission, for being ” an agent of transformation.
This commendation was given on Wednesday by one of the regional Ministers of the Church, Pastor Mark Barango, while receiving a sum of N11, 984, 844, 11( Eleven Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty Four Naira, Eleven Kobo only), recovered and returned to the church by the EFCC .
”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”, he said.
The money was stolen by a banker and the Account Officer of the church, Ameh Cyril Idakwoji, in a web of fraudulent diversion and suppression of the finances of the church .
Troubles came 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 N37,000,000( Thirty- Seven Million Naira only) in its account with the bank.
The bank 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.
He 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 covering up by giving fake Statements of Accounts to both the school and the church.
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 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).
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.
It will be recalled that a sum of N36,000,000( Thirty Six Million Naira), 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.
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