An Ondo-based cleric, Paul Oyewole has been dragged before a Magistrates Court sitting in Ondo for allegedly faking his obituary to avoid payment of debt.
Oyewole was arraigned before magistrate Mosunmola Ikujuni after he allegedly published and posted his death on social media to avoid payment of N3 million owed to his church member.
The cleric, who was docked by the court was alleged of fraudulently obtaining the huge sum from Boyede Emmanuel, a member of his church, promising to pay back the money within seven days.
The police prosecutor, Akao Moremi, told the court that Oyewole defaulted in paying the debt despite his repeated promises.
Akao said the clergyman falsely published and posted his obituary on WhatsApp after he sent a fake alert – knowing fully that he did not have such an amount in his bank account.
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“He (Oyewole) also threatened the complainant on phone, with the intent to intimidate him and conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace, by stripping himself naked in front of the complainant’s house,” the police prosecutor further told the Magistrate.
Oyewole pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The case has been adjourned till February 13, 2023, for further hearing.