by Isi Esene

Tommy Issachar, a 25-year-old pastor was arraigned before a Oshodi Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of breach of public peace and stealing.

The accused who resides at No 35, Mafoluku St., Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, reportedly committed the offence on April 12.

He allegedly stole a female church member’s underwear and N10,000 cash.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, said Issachar stole two pants, one bra and a cash sum of N10,000 belonging to Gift Bassey.

“The accused, a pastor of All Nations Evangelical Church, Oshodi, was invited to a programme at the headquarters of the church, which was the complainant’s church.

“The complainant and her husband accommodated him (pastor) in their house for three nights to conduct a special prayer session related to her husband’s business,” he said.

Olatunde said the complainant discovered the money and the items were missing when the pastor left their house.

“In the process of finding, it was discovered that the said underwear were taken by the accused without the complainant’s consent.

“At first, the accused denied taking those underwear but later confessed that he actually took them. He said that he wanted to use them to pray for her, but denied taking the money,” the prosecutor said.

Olatunde continued his submission saying the accused has since been sending threat messages to the complainant.

“The accused always send her text messages, threatening to eliminate her on or before August ending,” he reportedly said.

Olatunde said that the offences committed contravened Sections 166 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The Section provides that if convicted of stealing, the accused is liable to three years imprisonment.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The magistrate, Akeem Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000, with one surety in like sum, and adjourned the case till May 8 for mention.