Nigerian Pastor allegedly escape with  52 phones, money after crusade

A pastor named Dr. Owen Abraham is accused of fleeing with 52 Android and iPhones, cash, and other valuables from believers who came to a crusade he organized at Aponrin in the Agbowo neighborhood of Ibadan.

According to a few of his victims, the alleged crusader said that God had guided him to travel from the Gambia to Ibadan for the crusade.

Abraham stated that the holy spirit told him to tell people to turn in their phones and valuables on the third and last day of the crusade, but he later disappeared with it.

The victims said Abraham, who lured them into three days fasting and prayer was no where to be found at the last day of the crusade as all effort to reach him proved abortive.

A victim, Mrs Grace Akintola, who spoke with Vanguard, said many widows went for the crusade because the said pastor promised to give each person a bag of rice and money, adding that Abraham also promised to empower students with scholarship.

Mrs Akintola, a widow, while recounting her ordeal said: “the Pastor approached an Igbo lady in our area to assist him to gathere widows and students, saying he wanted to help us.”

“Someone in my area invited me for the crusade, the crusader wear Pastor regalia. He said he will buy house for one of us and that the house will be fully furnished.” 

“He promised some people that attended the crusade money, even politicians can not give out such money he promised.”

“On the last day of the crusade, he sold a bottle of water for us at the rate of N4,800. Be said perfume is inside the bottle water, many people paid for the water.”

Another victim, a student of University of Ibadan (UI) who pleaded anonymity, said the pastor ordered them to fast for three days, adding that the evangelist collected their phones so as to keep it away from them and focus on the prayers. Unknowingly, it was a trick to get rid of their belongings.”

“He said no phone should ring, that was why he collected all the phones. In fact, a lady stood up and wanted to take his photographs, he seized the phone from her.” 

“On the last day of the crusade, he said he wanted to go and rest at the hotel where he lodged, he later said he wanted to go and eat at UI, we don’t know how he escaped with our belongings.”

“As a man of God, we respected him alot, we didn’t know that he wanted to use the name of God to dupe us.”

Meanwhile, Abraham has been declared wanted by people in the area, as posters bearing his name and pictures have been circulated within the area to track him down.