Police arrest Nigerian suspect

Koforidua (Eastern Region) 4 Feb. 2000

The Police in Koforidua have arrested a Nigerian self-styled evangelist for allegedly defrauding a number of people under the pretext of sending them to the United Kingdom to participate in a weeklong 'Jesus 2000' crusade.

The suspect, Bethel Desmond Ibo Junior, 23, was arrested following a complaint received by the Police from a victim whom he had defrauded of 200 US dollars and 70,000 cedis.

A Police statement, signed by the Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Jonathan Kwame Abban, said Bethel was arrested on 31 January at Reo Cinema in Koforidua where he was hiding.

The statement said the suspect, who claimed to be a representative of the Pentecostal Missionary World Outreach Church at Merra Street, Owarri, Nigeria, arrived in Koforidua about three months ago to undertake his evangelistic work.

Bethel took advantage of the interest expressed by some of his followers to participate in the Kenneth Hagin Ministries 'Jesus 2000' crusade, scheduled to take place in March in England and collected various amounts from them under the pretext of processing documents for them.

The police statement said when the victims realised that Bethel could not provide them with the documents or return their monies, they reported to the police.

A search in his room led to the discovery of business identity cards bearing the names of enterprises he owned in Kano state in Nigeria.

GRi../