Facebook Fraudster arrested for posing as Pastor Adeboye

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A fraudster has been arrested for posing as RCCG founder, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, and defrauding unsuspecting members on Facebook

In recent times, many people have fallen victim to fraudsters who impersonate prominent people with the intent to take their hard earned money.

A fraudster who specialises in impersonating the founder of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s deputy, was arrested after his latest antics were uncovered.

The man identified as Innocent Nwobasi, who always presented himself as Pastor Adeboye’s deputy to Facebook users, had left several victims in his wake before his arrest. He allegedly duped his victims by promising them ‘special Jerusalem oil’ which can only be bought with foreign currency. He would tell them the oil would give them prosperity in the near future, saving them from an ‘ill-fated destiny’.

Nwobasi who hails from Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo state, had also successfully defrauded a widow before he was arrested and arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrate court.

Nwobasi and his partner who is now at large, targeted mostly members of the RCCG, posing as Rose Agu. According to the victims, the fraudsters would lure them to a building which they claimed was an RCCG branch, where they would proceed to collect their money.

The widow said N15million was taken from her between April and July, 2016. She said:

“He said he had gone to Jerusalem and came back without the oil, demanding that I should look for additional N3 million in foreign currency, that was when I realised I was dealing with a fraudster. I told him to come to RCCG convention; that we should meet there; he declined, shouted and cursed me. He threatened to kill me if I ever exposed him.”

The widow said they had claimed that her daughter would have a serious misfortune which could only be averted by a sacrificial offering. She said:

 “Immediately I met him somewhere at Abule Egba, he hypnotised me into believing everything he said. I was told to pay some amount of money for buying clothes, bags of rice, cartons of tin tomatoes for motherless babies’ homes and other items.”

Nwaobasi was arrested while waiting to receive payment from another victim identified as Esther, who had brought N900,000 to him. He was waiting for Esther in a hotel in Ejigbo, Lagos, after he had sent her to buy him N4,000 worth of airtime.

Another victim, Ulumma, said she had been talking to the ‘Rose Agu’ who told her she owned a boutique in Abuja and wanted to cater exclusively to RCCG members.

The prosecutor, Peter Nwangu who is an Inspector of Police, said Nwobasi thrived on the sweat of Nigerians. He was discovered to own two houses at Ajilete, Ogun state, two plots of land with four blocks of flats and a BMW car.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs O. Osasunmi said:

“Nwobasi should be kept in detention until a strict bail term is fulfilled. He should also pay bail charge of N3m, with two sureties who have landed properties in Lagos. The sureties must pay N100, 000 each, with verifiable addresses. They should also provide evidences of tax clearance.”

The case has been adjourned till January 30, 2017 for mention.