Posted on: 09:45 Tue, 20 Oct 2015



Some aggrieved members of the
Assemblies of God Church have
dragged the church’s factional
General Superintendent, Rev. Chidi
Okoroafor and six others to the
Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, over alleged
embezzlement and fraudulent
diversion of funds.

The petition was written by Barr. Eli
Ugwu on behalf of the Assistant
General Superintendent, Rev.
Ramsey Ogagaoghene, Bright
Arukwe, Clement Esochaghi, Oliver
Udensi and Sunday Palma.

It also called on the commission to
investigate Rev. Vincent Alaje, Rev.
Femi Adegoke, Mr. Dickson Ukpai,
Mr. Michael Ugbor, Elder Mike Okoro
and Tony Ewelike.

According to the allegations, Rev.
Vincent Alaje, former general
treasurer of the church until August
6, 2014 but currently the treasurer of
Rev. Chidi Okoroafor led faction of
the church, “unilaterally spent about
N115, 000,000 belonging to the
church illegally and on unauthorized
business without approval from the
General Superintendent.

“He personally negotiated and
concluded payments for three lands
and has started erecting a building
thereupon without the consent and
authority of the General
Superintendent and other officers of
the church.

“Alaje is fond of commandeering
money to himself, approving them
by himself, and authorizing
payments without seeking the
consent of the General
Superintendent.

This is evidence by
his requisition of 5/4/2013 for the
sum of N1, 500,000.00, which he
tagged; “Trip to Ibadan with the
family
“The above unilateral stashing of
fund is after the officers had
magnanimously approved N2m to
him as gift towards the same
purpose. The requisition will be
presented on demand”.

The report further accused Alaje of
illegally collecting N28, 508, 800.00
as Staff Investment Premium without
any authorization which according
to the report is against the General
Council Accounts procedures.

“Again, Rev. Alaje contrary to the
general council accounts procedures
and without authorization instructed
the deposition of specific amounts of
money which he tagged “Staff
Investment Premium” into a specific
Diamond Bank Account and from
records a total sum of N28,
508,800.00 was deposited into this
account from 24/4/13 to 27/7/14”,
they further claimed.

The petition also sought for probing
of Mr. Tony Ewelike with regards to
the N1.4b Assemblies of God
Ministers Benefit Scheme, AGMBS,
under him which he has been unable
to account for.

According to the petition, Rev. Femi
Adegoke, former medial director of
Assemblies of God should also be
investigated for allegedly defrauding
the church of over N50m.

Also, the petition called on the
commission to investigate the co-
coordinator, Easter yearly retreat,
Elder Mike Okoro, who they claimed
defrauded the church of over N4.4b
realized for the purpose of retreats.

The report also called for the
investigation of Mr. Dickson Ukpai
and Mr. Michael Ugbor both general
managers of Assemblies of God
Bookshop and Assemblies of God
Press for allegeddly embezzling over
N2.1b of the establishments.

The petition informed the anti graft
agency that, “Due to the current
crises in the church the fraudulent
activities of the people mentioned
above with the connivance of Rev.
Dr. Chidi Okoroafor has continued
unabated.

“It is our instruction that Rev. Chidi
Okoroafor, the leader of a faction of
the church and his cohorts named
above has before 6th March 2014
been fraudulently embezzling
billions of Naira belonging to the
church.

“We urge you sir, to carefully
investigate this report in the interest
of justice and in the spirit of the
present administration which has
zero tolerance for corruption.

“Your outfit is well known for
fighting of corruption and reposing
life on the downtrodden. We are
equally aware that no amount of
money in this entire world can buy
the conscience of EFCC the only hope
of Nigerians,” the petition said.