of Pastor Isaiah Willie of Happy People
Bible Church in Ayobo area of Lagos
State was to preach spiritual
redemption to members of his
congregation. But police investigations
have revealed that the 40-year-old
pastor was not only into bank fraud but
was also part of a dangerous armed
robbery gang that operate without
mercy.
The well-fed pastor and father of two,
who is now in police cell, said:
"I used to work with a group of guys
who are retired bankers. One of them
was even a bank manager. Most times,
we would get a virgin cheque of a bank
customer and the owner's signature...
"If the money is a large sum, the teller
would contact the owner of the account
on the telephone but we would have
already hacked the telephone number
of the customer such that when the
bank calls the owner of the account for
confirmation, it would be one of my
members that would answer the call
and give approval for withdrawal.
"We were able to perpetrate the fraud
in Fortune Bank and African Express
Bank which are both defunct now.
Sometimes we, through the connivance
of bank employees, used to clean out
dead people's accounts and use the
money to do business. Most times,
families of dead people don't get to
access their relative's account until
months or years after the person's
death."
Pastor Willie told Punch that he had
been into crime for many years, adding
that he was arrested a few years ago
but was later released.
According to Punch, about a year later
after Willie decided never to commit
crimes, the Pastor was lured back by a
gang of robbers that specialised in
breaking and stealing from Automated
Teller Machines, ATM.
He said, "I met a man who is from my
hometown, Confidence Saviour. He was
wanted by the police so I told him he
could live with me. A few weeks later,
he told me to drop some equipment at
a nearby bush and later that night, he
gave me N10,000.
"He eventually told me that he and his
gang were breaking into ATMs and
making a lot of money so I decided to
join them. I never followed them for
any operation but I usually left their
operation tools - such as sledge
hammer, generator and iron cutters -
near the bank where they wanted to
attack and I would leave.
" However, on one occasion, they went
to rob at the Ayobo branch of Access
Bank. Instead of dropping the
equipment and collecting the usual
N10,000, I wanted more money this
time around so I hid in a bush nearby.
Unfortunately, the robbery did not go
as planned as three policemen were
killed at the scene. I was later arrested
by SARS men when other gang
members mentioned my name."
Pastor Willie, who was close to tears,
said he had disappointed God and
begged for one last chance.
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