An accountant has bagged a 18-year prison term for defrauding a church in Adamawa State to the tune of N15.5m.

Ibrahim Aku, a High Court in Yola heard, defrauded the Church of Brethren in Nigeria the sum between 2016 and 2018 when he worked as the church’s accountant.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the money was generated by the church members through offerings, donations and tithes.

Justice Nathan Musa convicted Aku on six counts bordering on forgery and obtaining money by false pretence.

Justice Musa sentenced Aku without an option of fine.

The judge also ordered the convict to pay back the money as restitution to the church.

He equally ordered that the proceeds of the crime recovered in the course of investigation be sold by appointing valuers to sale and remit same to the church.

Aku pleaded guilty to all the six counts charge.

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Bello Bajoga, the Public Affairs Department of EFCC, said the judgment was “on course”.

“The convict was entrusted with church money and he ended up diverting the money and forged tellers and presented same as genuine, to serve as evidence of payment of the remittance,” Bajoga said.

(NAN)