A Nigerian pastor living in Mombasa has been accused of conspiracy to defraud a bank of Sh28.7 million.
Pastor Wealth Ochelle, alias Apostle Wealth of the Cogic International Church of God, denied two counts of bank fraud conspiracy and handling alleged stolen property.
Pastor Wealth Ochelle, also known as Apostle Wealth, was charged with conspiracy to defraud Stanbic Bank Limited in the amount of Sh28,779,600.
According to state prosecutor Anderson Gikunda, the preacher plotted the conspiracy between November 3 and 8, 2022, in an unknown location in the Republic of Kenya.
He was also accused of possessing stolen property.
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The court heard that on November 10, 2022, he dishonestly collected Sh340,000, knowing that the money was stolen or obtained illegally.
The priest, who denied any role in the crime, requested bail.
A lawyer for the pastor urging the court to release the guy on bail stated that "he only has a fear of God in him and will appear in court."
The magistrate heard that, despite being a Nigerian national, the accused is a pastor who works in a church in the coastal region.
"I implore this court to exercise its discretion in favor of the pastor, who is entitled to bail under the Kenyan Constitution," the lawyer pleaded.
According to the magistrate, the priest has already submitted his passport to the police.
He further stated that the pastor has lived in Kenya since 2013 Shanzu, where he runs the Cogic Church of God.
The court released the pastor on bail, citing Article 49 of the Constitution, which indicates that every defendant arraigned in court must be released on bail.
Pastor Wealth was released on Sh500,000 bail by Mr Onyina. The lawsuit will be heard on June 9, 2023.
