16th September, 2015
Cyriacus Izuekwe
More than 25 suspects operating within Synagogue Church of All Nations in Ikotun, Lagos, as agents allegedly extorting money and defrauding genuine worshipers have been arrested by the police in Lagos State, western Nigeria.
The arrest of the suspects followed a complaint by the founder of the Synagogue Church, Prophet T.B. Joshua, about the activities of the suspects in the church and its environs.
The suspects were arrested and brought to Ejigbo Magistrates’ court to be arraigned but their arraignment was deferred following the absence of the magistrate.
They were returned to the police station where they would be detained till Thursday when they would be arraigned.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the suspects and others now at large constituted themselves into agents, moving round the church both day and night soliciting for customers who will rent their apartments.
It was learnt that the suspects allegedly defraud innocent worshipers who could not afford to secure the church accommodation because of the price.
Apart from that, there is shortage of accommodation in the church due to the large number of worshipers that attend the church both from within and outside Nigeria.
P.M.NEWS also learnt that since a guest house collapsed at the church on 12 September last year, worshipers have been finding it difficult to get accommodation.
The suspected fake agents reportedly capitalised on the situation to defraud the members.
The police swooped on the suspects that are now in custody while some of them escaped.
When our reporter visited Ejigbo court on Wednesday, they were inside the court waiting for their arraignment before they were informed that the Magistrate would not be around.
They were taken back to the Police Station at Ikotun in two commuter buses.