Pastor, two others in N7.7 mln fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday commenced the trial of three persons, including a pastor, who allegedly defrauded one Rose Bello of N7.7 million

The trio of Rev. Akanji Kehinde, Enoch Idris and Amuzie Oku-Ani were dragged before an Ikeja High Court by the EFCC on a six-count charge, including fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.

The EFCC had alleged during their arraignment that the accused persons and one Edwin Onyuku, who is still at large, collected various sums of money from Bello between May and June 2008.

The anti-crime body further alleged that it was under the pretext of assisting the victim’s company, BVM Productions to secure a contract with the Nigerian Football Association.

The presiding judge, Olabisi Akinlade had before the commencement of the trial heard the bail applications brought by counsel to the accused-- Chinedu Ikegbule and Bamidele Ogundele.

Akinlade had granted each of them bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum and ordered that both sureties must be residents of Lagos State and must produce evidence of tax payments for the last three years.

The judge said the documents submitted must be screened by an investigative officer from the EFCC office and expressed optimism that the granting of bail applications would not frustrate the trial.

Amos Ubini, the first witness called by the EFCC had told the court that Akanji had approached BVM Productions on May 13, 2008 with the promise of helping them secure a contract with the NFA.

Ubini said the other accused persons were later introduced to him by Akanji as directors of “Communications Development Company Ltd.” when he visited their Abuja office to authenticate their claims.

Ubini, who is the General Manager of BVM, told the court that he was later asked to pay a loan secured by his company into the account of Communications Development Company Ltd because of logistics reasons brought forward by the accused persons.

The case was adjourned to Feb. 9, 2011 for cross-examination of the witness.