Pastor Harry Uyanwanne and his wife, Kristen, have been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by an Ikeja Special Offences Court for stealing N52 million using their church, Temple International Church.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Mojisola Dada found the couple guilty of seven counts of fraud and stealing filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court also ordered the deregistration and permanent closure of their church.
The EFCC charged the couple in February 2020, alleging that they converted N10 million belonging to a deceased woman, Mrs. Adeola Odemuyiwa, for personal use. They also fraudulently sold a property in Magodo, Lagos, for N42 million under false pretences, claiming Pastor Harry was authorized to sell it.
Justice Dada sentenced Pastor Harry to three years on the first count and seven years on counts two to six, while Kristen was acquitted on count seven. The sentences will run concurrently. Additionally, the court directed the convicts to restitute N31 million to the complainant within 60 days.
The EFCC argued that their actions violated the Advance Fee Fraud Act of 2006 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
This case highlights the increasing efforts to hold religious leaders accountable for financial misconduct.