Ondo State Magistrate Court has remanded a 43-year-old clergyman, Paul Oyewole, for allegedly publishing his obituary on social media to evade the N3 million debt payment he owed one of his church members.
Oyewole reportedly obtained the sum of N3m from Emmanuel Boyede, alleging that he would pay back the money within seven days.
Police Prosecutor, Moremi Akao, told the court that the accused falsely published and posted his obituary on WhatsApp after sending a fake bank alert to his creditor. And alleged to have threatened the creditor on the phone.’
”He committed the offence between the 25th of November, 2021, and the 7th of May, 2022, in the Valentino area of Ondo town, punishable under Sections 419, 86, and 125A(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006,” Akao said.
The cleric pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
The defendant’s counsel, Arokoyo Queen, applied for the cleric bail in the most liberal terms, promising he would not jump bail.
However, the presiding Magistrate Mosunmola Ikujuni granted the defendant N1 million bail with two sureties each in like sum. Stating that one of the sureties must be residing within the jurisdiction, a house owner, attached with the identification card.
Presiding Magistrate, thereafter, adjourned the case till the 13th of February 2023 for hearing.