Celestial Church of Christ clergyman sent to prison for defrauding UK diasporan

CELESTIAL Church of Christ Global parish clergyman Prophet Israel Ogundipe popularly known as Genesis has been sentenced to one year in prison for fraud by a Lagos State high court after being convicted of defrauding a UK-based diasporan.

Prophet Ogundipe, who is the shepherd-in-charge of Celestial Church of Christ Global Genesis parish, was accused of defrauding Mrs Olaide Williams-Oni. Mrs Williams-Oni had alleged that the prophet had fraudulently obtained N17m from her with the promise to assist her procure some landed properties.

After she reported the matter to the police, Prophet Ogundipe was arrested and arraigned on a seven count charge before Justice Akinlade. Following the trial, Justice Olabisi Akinlade sentenced Genesis to one year imprisonment for fraud.

In her testimony before the court, Mrs Williams-Oni, an architect, said that she met the prophet in 2002 during her visit to Nigeria when she was taken to his church for prayers by her step-sister. After listening to the case, Justice Akinlade found the prophet guilty of two out of the seven counts but dismissed the remaining five for lack of evidence, however, he ruled that the prison terms would run concurrently.