Church Member Arraigned For Stealing Bishop Oyedepo’s $56,000

One Chimezie Chuta has been arraigned before the Lagos state high court, Ikeja, for allegedly stealing $56,000 from Bishop David Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church Worldwide.

Chuta, a member of the church since 2013, was arraigned on Friday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Mojisola Dada, on one count bordering on stealing.

The defendant is said to be a former employee in the publishing unit of Dominion Book Stores, an online platform belonging to the church.

Chuta was reported to have proposed to build an online digital media store that would showcase all of Oyedepo’s books and audio messages, to enable members of the church in diaspora to buy them.

Following the approval by the church, Chuta was alleged to have later hacked into the company’s email diverted payments into his personal account.

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecuting counsel, Gabriel Akaogu, told the court to remand Chuta in prison, but R.E. Osige, the defence counsel prayed the court to admit his client on bail.

The judge adjourned the case to March 7 for hearing of bail application and commencement of the trial.