An Ikeja Special Offenses Court has sentenced Pastor Harry Uyanwanne and his wife, Kristen, to ten years in prison for stealing N52 million from Temple International Church.
The pair was found guilty on seven charges of fraud and theft by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by Justice Mojisola Dada in her ruling on Wednesday. Additionally, the court mandated their church’s deregistration and permanent shutdown.
In February 2020, the couple was accused by the EFCC on charges that they had used N10 million that belonged to Mrs. Adeola Odemuyiwa, who had passed away, for their own purposes. Under false pretenses, they also sold a property in Magodo, Lagos, for N42 million while claiming Pastor Harry had the right to do so.
Pastor Harry received a sentence of three years on the first offense and seven years on counts two through six from Justice Dada, while Kristen was found not guilty on count seven. Concurrent sentences will be used. The court also ordered the convicted individuals to return N31 million to the complainant within 60 days.
According to the EFCC, their acts were against both the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2011 and the Advance Fee Fraud Act of 2006.
The growing efforts to hold religious leaders responsible for financial malfeasance are exemplified by this case.