Lagos court sentence Pastor, Wife to 10yrs imprisonment, orders closure of church over N52m fraud
A Pastor identified as Harry Uyanwanne and his wife, Kristen, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja the Lagos state capital for embezzling N52 million through their church, Temple International Church.
The presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Dada on Wednesday found the couple guilty on seven charges of fraud and theft brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court further ordered the deregistration and permanent closure of their church.
The charges, filed by the EFCC in February 2020, disclosed that the couple misappropriated N10 million belonging to a deceased woman, Mrs. Adeola Odemuyiwa. They also sold a property in Magodo, Lagos, for N42 million under false pretenses, claiming Pastor Harry had authorization to execute the sale.
Justice Dada sentenced Pastor Harry to three years for the first charge and seven years for charges two through six, with the terms to run concurrently. Kristen was acquitted on the seventh charge. The court also ordered the couple to repay N31 million to the complainant within 60 days.
The EFCC maintained that their actions of the duo violated provisions of the 2006 Advance Fee Fraud Act and the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. This case underscores growing efforts to address financial misconduct among religious leaders.
