Pat Stevens/
A prosecution witness today, told the Federal High Court in Jos how Bishop Katung Jonas used his religious influence and televised sermons to lure members of the public into investing in a fraudulent cooperative scheme.
Testifying before Justice Sharon T. Ishaya, Sulaiman Kwalla, the first prosecution witness, said he and his wife were among many victims who were convinced to invest in Covenant Fadama Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, led by Bishop Jonas and Okewole Dayo, its chairman and secretary, respectively.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the two defendants on a 23-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, totalling ₦178.8 million.
Kwalla told the court that he invested ₦200,000 and another ₦100,000 on behalf of his wife after watching the cooperative’s advertisements on Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTV), which were aired following Bishop Jonas’ sermons. The Bishop often used those platforms to encourage viewers to invest, promising a 10% monthly return.
“Based on the Bishop’s religious standing and the attractive returns promised, I believed it was a genuine scheme,” Kwalla said. He paid the money into an account at Dadin Kowa Microfinance Bank and was issued receipts.
However, he said, no dividends were paid after the first month. When he visited the cooperative’s office, he met a crowd of other aggrieved investors. On June 4, 2012, a large group gathered to demand refunds, prompting police to evacuate Dayo to prevent escalation. He was later detained by the police.
Kwalla recounted that during a meeting with investors and police, Bishop Jonas admitted to being the cooperative’s chairman and proposed a repayment plan, which he failed to honour. He later introduced “Lanre Global Concept,” a consultancy firm, and another scheme called “Global View,” claiming the funds were now invested in forex trading. Kwalla described these as further fraudulent diversions.
He revealed that the investors, represented by their lawyer Solomon Dalung, eventually petitioned the EFCC, alleging fraud of over ₦8 billion involving more than 44,000 people. While his own ₦200,000 was later refunded, his wife’s ₦100,000 remains unpaid.
Efforts by EFCC counsel Ibrahim Buba to tender the receipts and the petition as evidence were challenged by defence lawyers C.I. Nwogbo and G.G. Achi, who objected on technical grounds. They argued that the receipt in the wife’s name was inadmissible since she was not present in court, and the petition lacked necessary certification.
Buba countered that the receipts were relevant and properly linked to the charges, and that the original petition required no certification.
Justice Ishaya adjourned the matter to Wednesday, July 23, 2025, for ruling on admissibility and continuation of trial.
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