A Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Lafia has sentenced an Abuja-based pentecostal church pastor, Mr Bitrus Bakkat, to a 21-year jail term for defrauding two hapless job seekers a total sum of N.2 million.
The sentence is without an option of fine. The presiding judge, Justice S. Aboki, apart from jailing the pastor, also ordered him to pay back the total sum extorted from the job seekers.
Pastor Bakkat’s trouble began last year May, when he collected a total sum of N205,000 in tranches from Mr Ugwueze Obinna and Mr Philip Adejoh on the pretext that he would secure jobs for their relations at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
But when he could not deliver, he was reported to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). He was investigated, arrested and arraigned before the court on a three-count charge of fraud.
Although, he pleaded not guilty, he was, however, convicted upon trial and sentenced to seven- year jail term on each of the three counts. But the judge held that the sentence should run concurrently.
The pastor is currently cooling his heels in prison.
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