Reacting to the news that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, arraigned one Olawunmi Dilureni before Justice S.O. Solebo of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on an eight-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of Twenty-three Million, Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N23, 320, 000. 00), House of Freedom has released a press statement debunking the involvement of Dr. Tony Rapu, pastor of This Present House Church.
A certain Tony Rapu was duped but it was not Dr Tony Rapu of This Present House.
The press statement reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to a story carried by various media outlets stating that someone named ‘Tony Rapu’ is a party in an alleged fraud case involving one Olawunmi Dilureni and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC). We hereby notify the public that Pastor Tony Rapu is in no way connected to the alleged fraud case. Pastor Rapu never invested in a diesel supply business as alleged, nor has he been defrauded by any Olawunmi Oluremi; neither is he a party to any case with the EFCC. We request the media outlets concerned to immediately retract the publications to avoid further action.
It was alleged that the defendant alongside Lola Aremu Anjorin, Tunde Jamiu, Oluremi Osobu and Home Concepts Limited (all at large) conspired to defraud the popular pastor, Dr. Tony Rapu, Nellie St. Matthew-Daniel and Eyitope St. Matthew-Daniel of the money.
However Dr. Tony Rapu has denied his involvement in the deal and the on-going trial to which the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.
Justice Solebo adjourned the case to March 14, 2018 for hearing of the application for bail and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of her bail application.
Dr Tony Rapu, works to tackle social issues such as drug addiction, prostitution and urban development, through his Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization. He is currently working on a 13-week video journal documenting inspiring stories of transformation compiled over 12 years titled “My Lagos Diaries”.
