MetroWitness narrates how bishop lured him into N178m investment scam

A prosecution witness, Fasaki Olutayo Jacob, on Thursday, October 16, 2025, narrated before Justice Sharon T. Ishaya of the Federal High Court, Jos, Plateau State, how he was allegedly defrauded by Bishop Katung Jonas and Okewole Dayo in an N178 million investment scam.

Jacob, the second prosecution witness (PW2), testified in the ongoing trial of the defendants, who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 23-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of ₦178,885,000.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Ibrahim Buba, the 68-year-old retired civil servant told the court that he was introduced to the second defendant, Bishop Katung, through a televised sermon on Plateau Radio and Television (PRTV), which convinced him to invest in Fadama Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, a faith-based cooperative promoted by the defendants.

He said he later visited the Bishop’s church, Maranata Church, at No. 10 Miyangu Street, Jos, where he was directed to the cooperative’s secretariat. There, he met Dayo, who instructed him to make payments through the cooperative’s account at Dadin Kowa Microfinance Bank.

Jacob said he invested a total of ₦1.2 million between 2011 and 2012 and was promised a 10 percent monthly return. According to him, investors were issued record cards where interest payments were documented.

He, however, told the court that payment of interests stopped in 2012, after which Dayo summoned investors to a meeting at Lamide Hotel, Jos, to appeal for patience. He added that Bishop Katung later appeared on television, promising that investors would be paid, but the promise was never fulfilled.

Jacob further narrated that aggrieved investors later besieged the cooperative’s office in Jos, prompting police intervention to prevent mob action. He said representatives of the investors, including himself, met with the police, but the matter was eventually referred to the EFCC for investigation.

The witness said both defendants made statements to the EFCC and attended a reconciliation meeting with some of the affected investors. He added that Bishop Katung assured them that the cooperative had assets and even provided a landed property document, promising to sell it to repay investors. However, he said, after the property was sold, no payments were made.

A receipt issued to Jacob after his payment was tendered by the prosecution and admitted in evidence as Exhibit F.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel C.I. Nwogbo, the witness confirmed that his statement to the EFCC in 2012 was true, though he clarified that the first defendant was not part of the television broadcast that influenced his investment.

Responding to questions from counsel to the second defendant, G.G. Achi, the witness said he knew Bishop Katung before investing but was influenced by his televised sermon.

Justice Ishaya adjourned the matter to December 10 and 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.

Witness narrates how bishop lured him into N178m investment scam - Daily Post Nigeria