A 25-year-old pastor, Tommy Issachar who resides at No 35, Mafoluku Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos was on Monday arraigned before an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing a female church member’s underwear and N10,000 cash.
Issachar is facing a two-count charge of breach of public peace and stealing.
The police prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 12 at Mafoluku, Oshodi.
He said that the accused stole two pants, one bra and a cash sum of N10,000 belonging to Mrs Gift Bassey.
“The accused, a pastor of All Nations Evangelical Church, Oshodi, was invited to a programme at the headquarters of the church, which was the complainant’s church.
“The complainant and her husband accommodated him (pastor) in their house for three nights to conduct a special prayer session relating to her husband’s business,” he said.
Olatunde said that after the accused had left their house, the complainant discovered that two of her pants, (her only black and white pants), one black brassier and the sum of N10,000 were missing.
“In the process of finding, it was discovered that the said underwear were taken by the accused without the complainant’s consent.
“At first, the accused denied taking those underwears but later confessed that he actually took them. He said that he wanted to use them to pray for her, but denied taking the money,” the prosecutor said.
Olatunde said that after the underwear was recovered from the accused, he had been sending series of threat text messages to the complainant.
“The accused always send her text messages, threatening to eliminate her on or before August ending,” he said.
Olatunde said that the offences committed contravened Sections 166 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The Section provides that if convicted of stealing, the accused is liable to three years imprisonment.
Pastor Issachar, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000, with one surety in like sum, and adjourned the case till May 8 for mention.
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