A Lagos pastor, Harry Uyanwanne, and his wife, Kristen, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for defrauding individuals of ₦52 million under the guise of their church, Temple International Church. The verdict, delivered by Justice Mojisola Dada at the Ikeja Special Offences Court, also ordered the church to be deregistered and permanently closed.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought a seven-count charge against the couple, including allegations of stealing and fraud. The trial began in February 2020, with both defendants pleading not guilty.
In her judgment, Justice Dada ruled that the EFCC had presented a compelling case, leaving no reasonable doubt about the defendants’ guilt.
- Pastor Harry was sentenced to three years on count one and seven years for counts two through six, with the sentences to run concurrently.
- Kristen Uyanwanne was acquitted of count seven but received a concurrent sentence alongside her husband for the other charges.
- The court also ordered the restitution of ₦31 million to the nominal complainant within 60 days.
According to court documents, the couple misappropriated ₦10 million belonging to the late Mrs. Adeola Odemuyiwa in March 2016. They were also found guilty of selling a property at Plot 32, Block 9, Magodo, Lagos, for ₦42 million under false pretenses, falsely claiming authorization from the property’s rightful owner.
The EFCC noted that the couple’s actions violated several laws, including:
- Sections 1 (2) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.
- Sections 278 and 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
In a landmark decision, the court ordered Temple International Church to be deregistered and permanently shut down, emphasizing the misuse of the religious institution for fraudulent activities.
