The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained a clergyman, Prophet Adeniyi James, based in Ilorin, over allegations of defrauding a member of his congregation of N3.9 million.
Prophet James is known as the General Overseer of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Freedom City Prophetic and Deliverance Ministry in Ilorin.
According to a statement released in Ilorin on Saturday by the EFCC’s head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, the Ilorin zonal command of the EFCC arrested James on April 2 in connection with the reported crime.
Oyewale quoted the victim, Oluwole Babarinsa, who alleged in a petition to the commission that James singled him out during a church service in 2021, claiming to have received a divine revelation about Babarinsa’s imminent journey abroad.
Babarinsa recounted that James mentioned during the revelation that he had contacts in Lagos who could assist with the relocation to Canada, albeit at a cost of N1.7 million for facilitation and an additional N2.5 million for flight tickets and processing of travel documents.
To fulfill the requirements, Babarinsa stated that he liquidated assets and obtained loans, amassing a total of N3,980,000, which he handed over to the prophet for the supposed relocation assistance.
However, despite considerable waiting, Babarinsa realized there were no concrete results. Subsequently, he demanded a refund from James, but all his efforts to reclaim his funds proved unsuccessful, prompting him to seek the intervention of the EFCC.
The EFCC spokesperson stressed that upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspect would face charges in court.
