Osinbajo takes over as Buhari proceeds on leave - http://goo.gl/Z0xSXq

Assets declaration: S/Court orders Saraki to go back to CCT for his trial - http://goo.gl/2NIg5O

Buhari: Babangida killed the Naira with SAP - http://goo.gl/jpcibn

Jonathan: My administration did not negotiate with Boko Haram - http://goo.gl/jDKICm

 

Lassa fever hits Imo: Medical Doctors, 30 others quarantined - http://goo.gl/AbbDTK

How police caught my uncle who planned to use me for money ritual - http://goo.gl/YgugiD

Today's AUTHORITY ICON on Page 3 is CHIOMA AJUNWA-OPARA, MON - http://goo.gl/qcysQL

 

See extracts of today's AUTHORITY Newspaper:

 

Please ask your vendor for a copy of THE AUTHORITY Newspapers for other stories.

 

You can also:

Visit THE AUTHORITY website: www.authorityngr.com

Like THE AUTHORITY on Facebook: Authorityngr

Follow THE AUTHORITY on Twitter: @Authorityngr

Follow THE AUTHORITY on Google Plus: Authority Newspapers

Join THE AUTHORITY BBM Channel: C0034EF18

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and one of the most respected lawyers in Nigeria, Ricky Tarfa, was reportedly arrested by the EFCC yesterday evening Friday Feb. 5th at the premises of the Lagos High Court in Igbosere, Lagos Island, for alleged obstruction of justice.

EFCC Spokesman Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the arrest to Channels TV, said Mr. Tarfa was arrested for allegedly trying to prevent the anti-graft agency from arresting his clients, a Beninois national, Granhoue Sourou Nazaire and his Nigerian lawyer, who were on trial for offenses bordering on forgery and conspiracy.

The accused, who were already on bail, appeared in court yesterday and when EFCC tried to re-arrest them, their lawyer, Ricky tried to prevent it. Mr Uwujaren said ongoing investigations necessitated the re-arrest of the two foreigners, but Mr Tarfa allegedly hid them in his car from about 12:00 noon till about 5:00 pm before they eventually nabbed him and his clients.

During a meeting with Nigerians in London on Thursday, pres. Buhari said that his administration within 3 months saved N2.2 trillion through the enforcement of the Treasury Single Account.

He said the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation, NNPC had over 45 accounts scattered in different banks and the Nigerian military also had 70 accounts in different banks. He said;

“We are really in trouble. What we discovered was that we tried to enforce what we called treasury single account, TSA. And the reason was simple. This government did not initiate it. It was the previous government. But it was so unpopular to the bureaucracy and the previous government for its own reasons couldn’t enforce it. But when we came and found that we were broke, we said this is the way to do it. And I will just tell you two examples to convince you. First, NNPC, the cow that was giving the milk had more than 45 accounts, ministry of defense, that is the military Army, Navy and air force had over 70 accounts. Tell me which account we can trace in these several accounts. So we enforce TSA. We said there must be TSA. By the end of December, coming to January this year, that is last month, we mopped up more than N2.2trn which we have used through the bureaucracy system to raise vouchers and sign cheques so that they don’t go into the next budget.”

President Buhari also said that the government found out that many directors in the CBN owned the Bureau De Change outfits through which they raked in the foreign exchanges.

“We found out that some of the directors in the central bank own the bureau de change businesses. So when the foreign exchange comes, they take it and give government the change. So we stopped the Federal Government giving bureau de change foreign exchange. Fellow country men and women, I am giving you a tip of the iceberg of the problem we inherited and we are getting so hard because we have no other way of running the country unless we make everybody accountable”, he said.

SARS operatives in Asaba arrested some human traffickers and rescued seven trafficked children including 10 year-old Sunday Michael, last year and handed them over to the Ministry of Women Affairs Asaba for care.

On January 26, 2016 one Michael Elijah Johnson of Nukind, Ibesikpo L.G.A of Akwa Ibom state reported to the Command and identified Sunday Michael as his biological son.

Having ascertained his claim to be true, the rescued boy was handed over to him by the Commissioner of Police, CP. Alkali Baba Usman.

According to a statement issued by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestine Kalu, there are still three years old girl and four babies aged between 3-12 months yet to be claimed by their parents. He advised parents whose children/wards within the aforementioned age bracket are missing to report to SARS office Asaba to check if the children are theirs with adequate proof for collection.

The Command appeals to parents to be watchful over their children/wards at all times.

Chinese doctor, Jin Junhua, 36, has been unconscious since he was hit by a drunk driver in January 2016. On Monday, doctors declared him brain dead.
Jin's wife, also a doctor, wanted to fulfill her husband's wish – he wanted to donate his organs after he died. So she has decided to donate Jin's heart, kidneys and liver to other patients.

His heart was transplanted on a 64-year-old woman who suffered from serious heart disease.

Jin's story has made him a hero in Chinese social media and many believe that what he did wasn't just an act of benevolence but has also helped to raise the public image of doctors.

According to CCTV, doctors in China have been subject to violence in recent years with patients often demanding quality service from doctors but many complain of poor services, leading to confrontations.

This has also led to a growing distrust toward hospitals.

Source: CCTV

Super Eagles and Watford Fc of England hotshot Odion Ighalo has revealed how restless he felt after a chinese club offered to pay him a mega sum to leave Watford last summer and join them.

The Edo native has been a revelation this season after his 14 goals in 24games  has helped Watford climb up the table and on the brink of avoiding relegation.

Hebei China Fortune had offered Ighalo a four - year deal and were willing to pay Watford £10 million compensation to severe ties with the Nigeria international.

“I was very close. They made a £10m bid and were offering me over £200,000 a week; a four-year contract. I couldn’t sleep for three days,”  Odion Ighalo told the Daily Mail UK.

“That kind of money is not easy to turn down. Some team-mates in the dressing room were saying, “You can’t miss this chance”. But I don’t jump into decisions like that.

“ I knew God would direct me. When I said I don’t want to go, they offered me more money, almost £300,000 a week. I told them it’s not about the money.”

'I have 14 goals in the Premier League, how do I go to China now?’ said Ighalo, who signed a new five-year deal in September thought to be worth about £30,000 a week."

They have called again and I have turned them down again,’ said Ighalo. ‘Maybe if I keep scoring goals, that team will come with triple the money at the end of the season. When the time is right to go to China I will know. If it’s for me it will come to pass.

‘When I was in Ajegunle, I was watching the Premier League, dreaming one day I would be part of it. If I keep doing what I’m doing I can enjoy my football in England for four, five or six years.

‘I helped this team to promotion. How can I leave because of money? I know money is good. With that sort of money I can secure my life. But you can’t sell your dream.’

‘I’m happy to be one of them. I’m proud to be Nigerian and to have come from a ghetto like that. It is not the best place to grow up. It wasn’t easy and it has been a rough journey. But it gave me strength to work and keep struggling. Looking back, I can’t complain. Hard work and the grace of God have paid off in my life.’

Chief Officers from Northamptonshire’s three emergency services came together on Jan. 27th at a special joint ceremony to acknowledge and commend the actions of staff and members of the public in responding to a major incident at the Lava and Ignite nightclub in October 2011, where two young women tragically lost their lives.

Among those commended were three members of the public namely: Chinedu Ani, Olabanji Gellately-Olanrewaju and Leonel Oliviera. Olanrewaju couldn't make it to the ceremony

Chinedu Ani who travelled from London to attend the event held at Northampton High School was commended for his actions in repeatedly trying to pull trapped people out of the staircase crush and to safety.  He received a standing ovation from emergency services personnel for his brave and selfless act.

Clubbers were involved in a crush on the main staircase area in the nightclub and students Nabila Nanfuka, 22, and Laurene-Danielle Jackson, 19, suffered fatal injuries while trying to leave the club, which was based in Northampton town centre.

At the commendation ceremony, staff from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, Northamptonshire Police and the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), were presented with formal commendations and letters of appreciation, acknowledging their efforts and professionalism in bringing the incident under control and limiting the number of people killed or seriously injured.

Adrian Davis, Head of Service for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

"There was rightly a complex and lengthy investigation into this incident, which concluded with the Coroner’s inquest at the end of last year. Following its conclusion all three chief officers felt it was now appropriate to pay tribute and recognise the tremendous work of the emergency responders in dealing with the events that unfolded at the Lava and Ignite nightclub."

Deputy Chief Constable, Andy Frost was the Police Gold Commander on the night of the incident and said: "What happened that night was an absolute tragedy.  We know that without the combined efforts of the staff from Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service, together with members of the public, there would have undoubtedly been more people killed or seriously injured."

Three police officers; five fire officers, six EMAS staff and three members of the public were awarded formal commendations for the exemplary actions they took in responding to the incident.  A further 116 members of staff received letters of appreciation from chief officers acknowledging the significant role they played and for their professionalism.

Richard Henderson, Director of Operations with East Midlands Ambulance Service said: "This was a very challenging and stressful incident where split second decisions had to be made.  We are extremely proud of the actions taken by the emergency teams.  They worked together very effectively, in tremendously difficult circumstances. They showed a great deal of compassion in supporting trapped, distressed and injured members of the public."

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party. Nnamani was Senate President from 2005 to 2007.

In a statement titled, ‘PDP, the burden and my conscience,’ which he released today February 6th, Nnamani said he was quitting politics in the interim but will however work and support government as well as elected officials as they work towards a better Nigeria.

“Without any iota of bitterness in my heart, I have decided to disengage from the PDP and consequently step aside from partisan politics in the interim. I wish to express my profound gratitude to the party that gave me the platform with which I attained the height I did in the politics of our country"he said.

An 83-year-old man, Sule Yusuf, says he has been sleeping under the Oshodi Bridge in Lagos State since 1999 after losing contact with his family.

Yusuf, who hails from Igboora, Oyo State, and claimed to have retired from Nigerian Army, told PUNCH that after he retired, he lost contact with his wife and children, but decided to stay put in Lagos.

It was gathered that the octogenarian had been spared during constant raids of the area by policemen after he explained to them that he was a retired soldier and his family members had allegedly deserted him.

Baba Yusuf, who once worked as a security man at the Mosafejo Motor Park, was relieved of his duty a few years ago because of old age.

It was gathered that after he reportedly retired from the army in 1979, had moved to the Makoko, Yaba area of Lagos, until his rent expired and he was asked to vacate his apartment.

It was learnt that Yusuf had been staying in the Mosafejo Motor Park during the day, and had been sleeping under the Oshodi Bridge at night.

When PUNCH spoke with Yusuf, he said he last saw his wife, Beatrice, and his two children – Morili and Jimoh – around 1999 before they relocated to Owerri, Imo State, where his wife hailed from.

Yusuf said he wanted to be reunited with his family and needed some financial help to live a better life.

He said, “I joined the Nigerian Army in 1967. When I left in 1979, my last place of service was at the cantonment in Adekunle Fajuyi, Ibadan, Oyo State. I met my wife when I served in Owerri, Imo State, and we had the two kids.

“She returned with the children to her hometown in Owerri in 1999. I was in Makoko, Yaba, till I packed out when I could not pay the rent. So, I moved to Oshodi. I was collecting my pensions from the army until I lost my ID card in the park.

“I retired from the army as a staff sergeant. I was usually given N12,000 monthly as pension. I used to sell herbs in the motor park area. Selling herbs was my father’s handiwork. So, I returned to it after misplacing my ID card.

“Since I got to Oshodi, I have not had anyone personally taking care of me except God. When I stopped selling herbs, the union executives assisted me by making me a security man in the park.

“But since that 1999, I have been sleeping under the bridge. I have been sleeping there for about 17 years. I need to see my family again. I need to be helped out of this situation.

“When the taskforce policemen raided the Oshodi area, they saw me, and I approached one of their commanders and explained my situation to him. He said his men should leave me alone. I do not have money to rent any house again. I want the government to help me. I do not have any sickness. I am not taking any injection. I only need help,” he added.

The Assistant Secretary of the Mosafejo Motor Park, Hamzat Sanusi, said the octogenarian was allowed to stay in the park because they saw the military ID card on him before he misplaced it.

Sanusi added that it was the union which had been bearing the burden of Yusuf’s survival.

He said, “He used to have a military ID card. We know him very well. But since he lost that card, he had not been given any entitlement... Since he had served the government, we think the government should rise to his plight.”

Mbaka: Priest, Politician Or Renegade?
Catholic priests in Nigeria have always captured the public imagination, some of them have served in government positions, some were prominent in the fight and struggle for democracy, some of them have proved their mettle as poets, teachers, musicians, social critics, and public affairs commentators, but Rev. Fr. Ejike Camillus Anthony Ebenezer Mbaka is a cut above the rest, not necessarily in terms of intellect or persona, but in terms of how he has been able to use the pulpit to acquire a rock star status.

It is therefore not surprising that everything about him is with a touch of the histrionic. This is exactly what happened when he was transferred, last week, from a parish where he had served for 20 years: from Christ the King Parish, GRA Enugu, to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Umuchigbo, Njinike, Enugu.

Characteristically, this radical priest and social activist turned what should be a
routine administrative posting by his Bishop into a melodrama and an assault on the authority of the Church. You would think he had been sentenced to a jail term, the way he whined and wept and appealed to sympathy.

“I’m going to suffer because I have no place to put my head. I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the Adoration Ministry’s assets…The Adoration Ministry is passing through suffering right now even though I’ve accepted that it is the will of God. Is the will of God through suffering? It is a mega suffering. The quantum of the assets of the Adoration Ministry is the only thing I am bothered about for now. Where am I going to keep them? I am going to stay in one small room that has only one small bed, one small table, little toilet and bathroom. So where am I going to keep all the Adoration assets? “ I couldn’t believe that this was a Catholic Priest. His pain was so palpable. He even took a shot at the Church:

“I won’t fight anybody or even dream of battling anybody. If anybody allows the devil to use him, the same that advised you to make a mistake will laugh at you when you cry over the error.” This was a clear suggestion that the devil was using his boss, the Diocesan Bishop of Enugu, His Lordship Calistus Onaga, against him, Mbaka and the Adoration Ministry. Rev Fr. Mbaka further spoke with a touch of vanity about how he single-handedly built the Christ the King Parish, Enugu, with proceeds from the sale of his music albums.

This priest is certainly special. He objects to suffering even if the Lord Jesus Christ, whose disciple he is, is the embodiment of sacrifice and suffering. He talks about assets in a capitalistic sense, and yet his reputation rests on his commitment to the poor. He finally says he accepts the “suffering”, sounding like a victim.Mbaka’s melodrama was nothing short of an act of protest and incitement. It didn’t take long before a mob-like group trooped to the GRA, Enugu to help him move his things to the new church where it is said he will be an assistant priest. If his followers had laid their hands on the Diocesan Bishop, only God knows what they would have done to him for allegedly demoting their hero.

It also didn’t take long before the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC), South-East Caucus, Osita Okechukwu issued a statement alleging that Mbaka was being victimized because he is pro-Buhari and pro-APC.

Okechukwu‘s intervention was a needless busybody act. He only stopped short of asking the Diocesan Bishop to reverse himself or get labeled as an enemy of the government of the day. Nor did it take long before the Catholic Church also put its feet down, staing clearly that no priest is above the Church. Mbaka definitely needed that reality check. But he had succeeded in politicizing his transfer and dragging the Catholic Church into mainstream, partisan politics with the Church holding the short end of the stick.

It is perhaps for this reason that the Catholic Bishop of Abuja Metropolitan See, Cardinal John Onaiyekan once asked that Rev. Fr. Mbaka should be sanctioned. He actually accused him of talking “rubbish” when he openly condemned President Goodluck Jonathan and insisted that the electorate should vote for Muhammadu Buhari, then Presidential candidate of the APC, who according to him, was destined to win the 2015 Presidential election.

“I do not believe in my mind that the way things are in Nigeria, any Catholic priest has the mandate to decide which of the political contestants should be voted for… I don’t believe a priest should be doing that...If he was in my archdiocese, I will have sanctioned him long ago for the kind of utterances he makes.” Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama. President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), also similarly disowned him. Even with those protestations, Mbaka remained untouchable.

He is on record as having declared in a secessionist mood, for example, that the sovereignty of Nigeria is not sacrosanct. “If we must be one Nigeria, let it be one Nigeria, but if it can’t be one Nigeria, let us divide…let us tell ourselves the truth.”He has also since the 2015 elections, made a high profile visit to the Presidential Villa to see President Buhari. He was actually shown arriving in a private jet, waving to the crowd as if he was on a Papal visit to the seat of power! How did one priest, out of over 30 million Nigerian Catholics, become so powerful and untouchable?

Rev Fr. Mbaka’s seeming invincibility lies in his significance and relevance. His Ministry is a loud comment on the relationship between the Church and the congregation. Mbaka is the founder and Spiritual Director of a Ministry within the Catholic Church known as Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN). Gifted, creative and clever; he is without any doubt a liberation theologian.

He runs a prophetic church, a church that believes strongly in the power of the Eucharist, and which in every sense is a church of the poor. His source of inspiration must be those liberation theologians and other radical priests who have proven that for the church to be relevant, it must be relevant to the interests, concerns and expectations of the congregation, particularly the underprivileged poor.

More than any other catholic priest in Nigeria, Mbaka has taken the Catholic Church beyond the confines of liberal conservatism to the ordinary man in the market place. He speaks the poor man’s language, he appeals to their imagination. He is the bridge between the Pentecostal churches and the Catholic Church in Nigeria.

He has mastered the tricks, the rhetoric, the antics and the persona of the former, and he applies this with a touch of sassiness that is original. He urges members of his ministry to “Pray Until Something Happens” (PUSH). In an overtly religious and superstitious country like Nigeria, there is never a shortage of persons who are ready to push until the impossible happens.

He organizes vigils titled “E no dey again”. That is precisely what the people want to hear. They want to hear that problems, disease, unemployment- “e no dey again!”. Mbaka also has a Foundation, the Multi-Life Savers Foundation. Note the emphasis on the saving of lives! He pays hospital bills, he gives out cars, he builds houses for people, he pays school fees, he sponsors events.

He sings. He dances. He is not your typical Catholic priest. He is rich. He talks about assets. Other priests go to him for financial assistance. He is an all-round entrepreneur in church garments. His Ministry performs miracles, signs and wonders. He makes the lame walk, he opens the eyes of the blind, he cures diseases; he spreads wealth and opportunities. He creates jobs. He provides hope. With all this, Fr. Mbaka is far ahead of his bosses within the Catholic hierarchy. Persons of other faiths and Christian denominations troop to his Ministry to seek spiritual counseling. Politicians seek his endorsement.

He controls the mind of multitudes. The Catholic Church is probably in need of reinvention, and the seeds of that process may well lie in the example and eclecticism of Mbaka and his likes in other parts of the Catholic world.

The plain truth is that the average church-goer today is looking for something different which the orthodox churches and their mode of worship do not offer. The poor who make up the congregation are as impatient as the politicians who have made them poor. They want immediate salvation, practical solutions to their problems; they want their blessings here and now, not in a world to come. Mbaka and the Pentecostal pastors understand this and so they bring the church closer to the people’s needs. But there is a flipside and it is hubris.

Hubris is risky and pernicious. It is what makes Fr. Mbaka appear so contradictory. It is what has distanced him from his original vows as a priest, making him talk of cash and assets as if he were an investor on Broad Street. It is what makes him complain of suffering and see his transfer as a punishment, rather than as an opportunity for further evangelism of The Word. He must have started out as a humble priest, but today, he has mastered the use of the media for self-projection and he is not contented with being a priest, he is now enjoying the life of a celebrity, hugging the limelight, seeking personal glory.

He runs a ministry of miracles, of wonders and signs and he sees visions of possible assassinations, either of himself or the politicians that he supports. No one should be surprised if this Pentecostal Catholic priest goes about with bodyguards. He shares this hubris with many other religious figures who seek to share power with politicians and co-govern Nigeria. They see visions about everything: from elections to diseases and foreign exchange rates. They have created a New Order under which they command the electorate, political parties and governments.

It is this hubris that has blinded Fr. Mbaka to the fact that the souls to be won for Christ are not only in GRA, Enugu, but in all places as well. His transfer to a smaller parish should remind him of the essence of his priestly vows: humility, simplicity, obedience, sacrifice, as well as commitment to the good of the church rather than individual heroism, values which can truly make him a priest in the Order of Melchizedek. Let him therefore, suffer if he must, and let his suffering be a blessing upon the poor and the Church, and if he as much as whimpers again, let him be posted post-haste to Sambisa forest, where the poor are in urgent need of miracles.

- by Reuben Abati

Senate President Bukola Saraki has been ordered to go and face trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) according to a 7-man panel at the Supreme Court which rejected his appeal challenging the decision of the Appeal Court which upheld his trial at the tribunal.

A three-judge panel of the Supreme Court led by a retiring Justice John Fabiyi had on December 4, 2015, ordered a stay of proceeding by the Tribunal pending the determination of Mr. Saraki's appeal.

The court also asked counsel on both sides to submit their briefs of argument within 14 days. The court then fixed February 5, 2016, to deliver its judgement.

Saraki's appeal before the country's apex court contends that 

the CCT lacks jurisdiction to try him. His lawyers argue that the tribunal was not duly constituted as it comprised two instead of three members provided for by the Constitution. Also, the embattled Senate President's lawyers claim that the charges against Mr. Saraki were not competent.

A panel of Nigeria's Court of Appeal had earlier, in a split decision, affirmed the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try Saraki.

No more court to go to delay the trial.

When a president declares that stealing is NOW corruption, looters will be very scarred to steal...

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that his administration has so far saved 2.2 trillion naira using just the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

He said when he became president, “we discovered that the NNPC had more than 45 accounts, the ministry of defence and the military had more than 70 accounts; tell me which of the accounts to trace every year?"

The President made this disclosure while interacting with a cross section of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom on the side-line of the Supporting Syria Conference in London.

President Buhari faulted the past administration for operating several accounts with which they siphoned money belonging to Nigerians, vowing not to relent in the fight against corruption.

He said that money recovered so far can fund the country’s deficit and infrastructure development.

In the words of Mr President:“When we discovered that we were already in trouble, we tried to enforce the TSA. This government did not initiate it, it was the previous government, but it was so unpopular to the previous government.

“For its own reasons, it couldn’t impose it, but when we came and we found out that we were broke, we saw that this is the way to do it.

“So we enforced TSA, we said there must be TSA, and let me tell you by the end of December coming to January this year, last month we mopped up more than N2.2 trillion.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki has expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court Judgement on the appeal he filed against his arraignment at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

His reaction: "After listening to the ruling of the Supreme Court in the appeal he filed to challenge the process of arraigning him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki hereby states as follows:

"He expresses disappointment over the Judgment of the apex court in the country on the six grounds of his appeal."

In a statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, he said he's now ready for the trial.

"He however will like to put it on record that the facts of the substantial matter are not before the Supreme Court since the apex court was only invited to rule on some preliminary issues in the process of commencing the trial.

"The Senate President believes he will have his day in the court to prove his innocence of the charges preferred against him during the trial proper.

"Dr. Saraki will like to thank everyone who has expressed support for him from the beginning of the case. He assures everyone that at the end of the day truth will prevail and justice will be served."

A based businessman, Ogochukwu Raphael, based in Sokoto State, is now stranded after he came to Lagos to visit a church to seek spiritual solution over his dwindling fortunes in business.

According to him, apart from the fact he was defrauded of N750,000 for fake visa, the pastor allegedly collected another N800,000 for prayers for business success before he would travel out of the country with the Visa.

Consequently, Pastor Chike Ifeanyi of Christian City International Church has been arrested and charged before Isolo Magistrates’ court for his alleged involvement in the fraud.

45yrs old Pastor Ifeanyi allegedly collected N750,000 from Oguchukwu Raphael under false pretence that he was procuring an Australian resident Visa for him.

The incident happened in Itire area of Lagos where the pastor resides. But the prayer was conducted at a church at Oke Afa where Raphael was made to part with the "deliverance fee".

Ifeanyi, who hails from Anambra State and resides at Balogun Estate, Ajah, was finally arrested at Idimu after several months of hide-and-seek over the matter.

After the victim paid the money, it turned out that it was a scam as Ifeanyi did not procure any visa nor return the money to Raphael.

Rather, he told him that the embassy requested additional 10,000 dollars as deposit and sent him away from the church.

The matter was reported to the police who trailed Pastor Ifeanyi until he was arrested. He was charged with obtaining and stealing under the Criminal Code.

When the charge was read to him, as usual he pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Joy Ugbomoiko granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The case has been adjourned till 2 March, 2016, for trial.