A day after the scheduled arraignment of Reverend Dr. Israel Akanji, the former resident Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja over an alleged N620 million fraud was stalled on Thursday due to the absence of the lawyer for the prosecution, the Church has cried out that its money is not missing.
Rev. Akanji was to be arraigned before Justice J. A. Aina of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Kwali on a five-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
In the charge, marked: CR/1045/24, Akanji and five othera are alleged to have engaged in conspiracy, forgery and criminal misappropriation of church funds to the tune of N620 million.
Listed along with Rev. Akanji as defendants in the charge are Rev. Thomas Takpatore, Babatunde Adebayo, Mrs. Adenike Adebayo, Oladele Afolabi and Mrs. Gloria Olotu .
But Friday, the Church issued a public statement signed by Dr Emmanuel Chibuzor Ibe, a trustee and
Deacon Adedamola Akanbi, the Church Secretary, that it did not lose money to fraud. It stated: “Our attention has been drawn to some misinformation, rumours and fabricated stories making the round in the social media about the financial situation of First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja under the watch of our former senior Pastor, Rev Dr Israel Adelani Akanji.
“We would have ignored the misinformation but in the interest of some well meaning members of the public who desire to know the true position of the situation, we are using this forum to set the record straight.
* That the Church condemns in strong terms the activities of those who are hell bent in embarrassing and harassing our former Senior Pastor, Rev Dr Israel Adelani Akanji. We know that the One who called him into ministry and who made him to lead our Church for 22 years will vindicate him in Jesus Name.
* That there was never a time when the Constitution and the Byelaw of our church (First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja) duly filed and certified by the Corporate Affairs Commission, was forged by anyone or group of people for whatever reason.
* There was never a time in the history of our Church when any money or property was misappropriated or converted by anyone or group of people. The account of our Church is intact, regularly audited and has been under the management of qualified financial personnel.
* That under the watch of our former Senior Pastor, Rev Dr Israel Adelani Akanji, every transaction made by the Church adhered strictly to the due process and the policies of the Church.
* That under the watch of our former Senior Pastor, Rev Dr Israel Adelani Akanji, the Church grew up from nowhere to become unarguably one of the leading Churches in the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
* That everything done under the watch of the former Senior Pastor, Rev Dr Israel Adelani Akanji, was endorsed by the whole church in accordance with the Practices and Policies of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
* That our former Senior Pastor, Rev Dr Israel Adelani Akanji is still enjoying the respect, honour and the support of the Church and the entire members to date because of his unprecedented contributions to the Church.
* The church as represented by her Board of Trustees (BOT) has not lodged any complaints with the Nigeria Police. Any legal action against the Church and her leadership is sponsored by evil forces determined to malign, harass and embarrass the church and the former Senior Pastor.
* We appreciate the love, concern and understanding of those who are sincerely disturbed and worried about the unfortunate narrative being spread about the Church. We know that First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja is marching on and the gate of hell shall not prevail. In the fullness of time the church and the gospel of Christ shall prevail in Jesus Name.
Some counts against Akanji in the charge read:
*That you Rev. Dr. Israel Akanji, male (63 years), former Resident Pastor of First Baptist Church Garki Abuja; Rev. Thomas Takpatore; Mr. Babatunde Adabayo, Mrs. Adenike Adebayo, Mr. Oladele Afolabi and Mrs. Gloria Ototu (who are now at large) on or between 2012 and 2021 did misappropriate the sum of N620,004,000.00 property of First Baptist Church Garki, Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 308 and punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code.
*That you Rev. Dr. Israel Akanji, male (63 years) former /Resident Pastor of First Baptist Church Garki Abuja, Rev. Thomas Takpatore and Mr. Babatunde Adabayo (who are now at large) on or sometimes in 2021 did convert the sum of N620, 000,000.00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code.
At the mention of the case on Thursday, Justice Aina said the court received a letter from the prosecution, seeking an adjournment on the grounds that it was engaged at the National Assembly.
Defence lawyer, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) told the court that his client’s were not served with the prosecution’s letter for adjournment.
Akintola added that his clients have filed an application seeking to quash the charge.
He expressed surprise at the prosecution’s absence and said that the degence was ready to proceed with the hearing of the case.
Ruling, Justice Aina held that since the prosecution’s letter was properly before the court, it was proper to grant the adjournment in the interest of justice.
The judge added that the proper thing to do was for the prosecution to serve the defence with the letter.
Justice Aina then adjourned till May 27, 2025 for arraignment.
● Additional report by The Nation.
