Man Jailed For Stealing Church Offering

Date: 05-06-2013 4:49 pm (10 years ago) | Author: Direct
- at 5-06-2013 04:49 PM (10 years ago)
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A 39-year old man, Stephen Abiodun who went to a Celestial Church of Christ, Egan parish, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, to seek spiritual deliverance has ended up in prison after he stole the church offering.

He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment without an option of fine at Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court Lagos on a three-count charge for felony, beaking and entering and stealing under the Criminal Code.

He was jailed after he pleaded guilty before the presiding Magistrate, Mr P. E. Nwaka and admitted that he broke a box containing the church offering money and stole N190,000. He also told the court he did so with two of his friends now at large because they were indebted and wanted to pay those debts.

The incident happened 39-year old Abiodun went to the church located at 24 Adisat Falae street, Egan to seek spiritual deliverance for his predicament.

He attributed his dismissal from his job as a result of spiritual attack and was introduced to the church by his mom for deliverance and prayers.

While he was in the church, he observed that the church congregation were dropping money in the offering box.

After the church prayed and delivered him, a few days later, he contacted two of his friends and they went and broke into the church broke the offering box and carted away N190,000.

However, one of the church members who saw them that night and recognized Abiodun reported that he saw Abiodun with others in the night at the church premises.

The matter was reported at Igando police division and he was arrested and taken to the station where he confessed.

When he was arraigned in court, he also confessed and said that he incurred debts in a hotel where they drank and they were thinking how to off set the debts before he suggested to his friends.

In his statement in the court, Abiodun said he was introduced to the church by his mom for prayers and deliverance and after the prayer, he returned home and went out with his friends to drink in a hotel.

He said the money they had could not pay their bills and he suggested to his friends about going to the church to steal the money.

Abiodun said his friends bought the idea and they went and broke into the church through the window and went straight to the offering box and broke it and took away the money.

He said they did not touch any other thing inside the church except the money which he said belong to God.

He pleaded for leniency and told the court that he did not know the strange spirit that possessed him.

The court found him guilty and sentenced him accordingly.

However, the court ruled that the three count charge will run concurrently. Therefore, Abiodun will only spend six months in prison.

Posted: at 5-06-2013 04:49 PM (10 years ago) | Hero