The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a deacon of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Cyril Idakwoji.
The commission handed over two cheques covering N11.9m to the church.
The anti-graft agency also obtained N36m belonging to Jephthah International School and allegedly stolen by the suspect.
The amount was said to have been stolen by Idakwoji, a former Port Harcourt-based employee of Access Bank.
According to the South-South Zonal Head of the EFCC, Mr. Ishaq Salihu, Idakwoji, a former account officer of the church for the bank, was diverting the funds given to him by the church for his private use instead of transferring them to the church’s bank account.
He also said that Idakwoji forged the signature of the church’s accountant in a bid to successfully carry out his criminal activities.
Handing over the cheques to the Pastor of Province 4 of the church, Salihu said, “He (suspect) forged the letterhead of the church’s Region 5 and the signatures of the pastor in charge of the region. He also forged the signature of the church’s accountant to execute his criminal schemes in RCCG.”
Speaking after receiving the cheques from the anti-graft agency, the Pastor of Province 4 of RCCG, Port Harcourt, Mr. Mark Barango, expressed gratitude to the EFCC for ensuring that the money was recovered.
He said, “He (suspect) was the account officer assigned by the bank to us. He was also a member of the church. EFCC is an agent of transformation. I thank the EFCC for helping us recover the money. What they have done is perfect.”
Idakwoji, according to the EFCC zonal head, had also served as an account officer to the private school.
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