Forty-seven years old female pastor, Olateju Oluwakemi, as well as her husband, have been dragged before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, after they were accused of duping a foreign exchange operator of N5.1 million.

The cleric is facing a three-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, issuance of a dishonoured cheque and stealing.

The Police prosecutor of the case, Inspector Chris Takim, told the court that the accused had on November 21, 2013, fraudulently obtained the sum of N5.1 million from one Joseph Alegieuno at 6Js Bureau De Change Ltd Lagos.

According to Takim, Pastor Olateju and her husband identified as Jide Olateju had approached the victim, who is the manager of 6Js on November 8, to sell $32,300 notes at the rate of N5.1 million.

It was gathered that the cleric had collected the amount while her husband stood as a guarantor for his wife.

The prosecutor said that the couple convinced the complainant to give them N4 million, which had drawn an accumulated interest of N1.2 million at an exchange rate of N160.00 per dollar.

Takim said the accused promised to credit the complainant’s account within 90 days and issued a post-dated N5.1 million First Bank Plc cheque with serial No. 28391214 and account no 2009844777, dated November 21, 2013.

He explained that when the cheque was presented for payment, it was returned due to insufficient funds and the complainant’s effort to reach the accused thereafter was unsuccessful.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Adjourning the suit for further hearing, the Magistrate, M.A Osinbajo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N60,000 with two sureties in like sum.