Cleric in trouble over N1.8bn contract ‘scam’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a cleric over his alleged involvement in N1.8 billion contract scam.
A press statement by the EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja, said the suspect, James Ezekiel, was arrested by operatives attached to the commission’s Zonal office in Port Harcourt.
He explained that Ezekiel, who claimed to be the presiding pastor of One Touch Power Ministry, Agudama, Epie in Bayelsa state, allegedly defrauded his victim of N1.3 million.
He said the cleric had deceived the victim to enlist as one of the “financiers’’ of a spurious contract, noting that: “Ezekiel claimed to have won a contract for the roofing of a church cathedral belonging to the Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt.
“He reportedly put the contract sum at N1.8 billion and showed a contract award letter to his victim. He also wooed his victim to collaborate with him as one of the “financiers” of the contract.”
According to him, trouble started for the suspect when the victim demanded repayment of his money with interests, which he couldn’t pay immediately.
Uwujaren said investigations showed that the suspect delayed making the payment by deceiving him that he had been paid N800 million as mobilisation fee for the contract.
He said Ezekiel lied that he could not access the funds because his company’s account had been frozen by the EFCC, just as the suspect contrived a fake EFCC’s e-mail message notifying him of the freezing of the account.
He said that the victim suspected foul play and petitioned the commission to help him reclaim his money.
“Further investigations showed that the Salvation Ministries did not award any contract to Ezekiel and no transfer of N800 million was made into his company’s account.
“Besides, the e-mail address he ascribed to the EFCC does not belong to the commission.
“The suspect allegedly initiated the scam to fraudulently obtain money from the petitioner and other unsuspecting members of the public.
“The suspect is in the custody of the EFCC and will be charged to court soon,’’ Uwujaren said.