Police in Ogun State have arrested a man accused of posing as a pastor and defrauding 18 fellowship members of about ₦2.5 million.
The suspect, Kehinde Makinde, popularly known as Pastor Kenny, allegedly collected the money after promising the victims a government-sponsored pilgrimage to Jerusalem and ₦2 million for each participant.
Police investigations also linked Makinde to alleged fraudulent spiritual deliverance activities targeting unsuspecting residents across Ogun, Oyo and Osun states.
Authorities said the suspect had been under discreet surveillance for about four months before detectives moved to arrest him.
Makinde was eventually apprehended in Ibadan, Oyo State, during an operation by detectives attached to the Obantoko Police Division.
According to the Ogun State Police Command, the arrest followed intelligence gathering and investigations into complaints involving the suspect’s alleged activities.
Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said investigators were working to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud.
He said preliminary findings showed that Makinde allegedly convinced 18 fellowship members in Saje, Adatan, to pay money for the purported pilgrimage arrangement.
“Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly obtained approximately ₦2.5 million from eighteen fellowship members under the false pretence of organising a government-sponsored pilgrimage to Jerusalem,” Babaseyi said.
The victims were reportedly promised ₦2 million each as part of the alleged arrangement, a claim police said formed part of the deception used to obtain the money.
Beyond the alleged pilgrimage scheme, investigators are also examining claims that Makinde manipulated people while offering spiritual deliverance in communities across three states.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying other possible victims and determining whether other individuals were involved.
Makinde is currently being held in police custody as detectives continue their investigation into the allegations.