Ogundipe, Lagos-based pastor, jailed for fraud

Israel Ogundipe, shepherd-in-charge of Celestial Church of Christ, Global Genesis Parish, Lagos has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for fraud.

A Lagos state high court had convicted him of defrauding Olaide Williams-Oni, a UK-based woman, of N17 million.

Ogundipe, who has been on trial since 2011, was charged with seven counts of obtaining by stealing, inducing delivery of money by false pretence, unlawful conversion of property and forgery.

Olabisi Akinlade, the presiding judge, found the clergyman guilty of two of the seven charges and dismissed the remaining five over lack of evidence.

Akinlade had ordered Ogundipe to pay the complainant the money which he illegally obtained from her.

“Both sentences are to run concurrently and the defendant is to restitute the complainant the sum of N2.5million in respect of count two (stealing) and N8.5million in respect of count 4 (unlawful conversion of property not delivered),” the judge held.

Williams-Oni had told the court that she met the prophet in 2002 during her visit to Nigeria. She said her step-sister took her to his church for prayers.

Ogundipe, who is in his 40s, is popular on social media as a result of some of his messages that have gone viral.

Last year, his comment on “meaningful sex” not lasting more than five minutes sparked reactions on social media.