€125K PILFERING PASTOR’S ‘ROAD TO DAMASCUS’

Taxi driver and preacher who ‘dipped his hand into the church’s purse’ confronted over thefts

A PILFERING pastor who fleeced his church out of more than €125,000 claimed to gardai he confessed after experiencing a ‘road to Damascus type moment’.

But, Naas Circuit Court heard this week that when Ebenezer Oduntan confessed his crimes, the plundering preacher had already been confronted by a fellow church official and forced to admit ‘dipping his hand into the church purse’.

A part-time taxi-driver, Odun- tan (58) held the position of pas- tor at the City of David Church in Naas from 2012 to 2020, during which time he had sole access and control of the finances.

CHILDCARE

At a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, prosecutor Seoirse O Dunlaing detailed to Judge Martina Baxter how, during this time, Oduntan stole €52,000 from the church via a Credit Union account and another €75,000 through the issuance of blank cheque s.

Among the illegal payments subsequently discovered were disbursements to cover Oduntan’s

own personal health insurance plan and a payment of over €1,650 to a childcare service run by Oduntan and his partner.

The father-of-four was convicted last month of 73 counts of theft, five counts of deception and nine company law offences.

Mr O Dunlaing said the Church of David was part of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria.

“Between 2012 and 2020, he (Oduntan) ran the church (in Naas) with sole access and control of the company’s finances.” Mr O Dunlaing said.

“Effectively, he wouldn’t have been accountable to anyone.”

Outlining how Oduntan’s crimes came to light, he said the defendant contacted the Charity Regulator on September 16, 2020 ‘to confess to a fraud in the charity’.

DONATIONS

As a consequence of this call, Mr Tom Mulholland, the head of the charity regulator, rang Oduntan back. During the course of this call, the defendant said he wished to confess to stealing money from the Church.

“He (Oduntan) said he was a director of the church,” said Mr O Dunlaing.

“Donations were received into a bank account of the charity and funds were also received from the Revenue Commissioner.

“He then said he used some of these funds for his own personal use.

“He also said he obtained company cheques and he would fill in the amount, cash them and then use this for his own personal use.”

Subsequently, Mr O Dunlaing said, the defendant made a statement in relation to his offending at Naas Garda station.

Asked by gardai why he had come forward, Mr O Dunlaing said the defendant “said he had attended an online Zoom course on charities and it was apparent from that what he was doing was impermissible.

“Effectively what he was saying was this was a Road to Da

mascus type moment.”

But, said Mr O Dunlaing, Oduntan’s trial heard the confession occurred after the discrepancies in the accounts had already been discovered by church member Patrick Irving, who then confronted Oduntan.

INDEBTED

“Mr Irving told the jury that when he spoke to Mr Oduntan he confessed to dipping his hand into the church purse,” said Mr O Dunlaing.

“He said he was indebted to a lot of people and he also said it was for personal use.”

The court heard during his trial Oduntan accepted some level of responsibility for €15,000– €25,000 and that he spent it for himself and family.

He also admitted five counts of deception during the course of the trial in relation to a fraud involving the inflation of donations made to the church, which then resulted in Revenue Commissioners reimbursing more than it should under the Charitable Donation Scheme.

The prosecution told the court that the ultimate monies stolen amounted to more than €52,000, stolen by way of a Life Credit Union account and more than €75,000 in cheques withdrawn in cash from various accounts amounting to around €126,000, and that no monies have been returned. Mr O Dunlaing said in relation to the company law offences that Oduntan said he had acted single-handedly and that he admitted no member of the church or current board colluded with him, and that he wished to apologise.

CHILDREN

Defence Counsel Damien Colgan appealed to Judge Martina Baxter for leniency in her sentencing.

He said Oduntan, aged 58, is married with four children.

He said Oduntan is a naturalised Irish citizen, had been working as a taxi operator, and has no previous convictions.

He said he had set up the church.

Mr Colgan said Oduntan made admission to some of the charges and expressed a certain amount of remorse, but does not accept the jury’s verdict in relation to others.

FAITH

Mr Colgan said Mr Oduntan has been ostracised by his community and has no friends.

He said that before this happened he seemed to have true faith, and that this is something that he will have to live with.

Oduntan is due to be sentenced before Naas Circuit Court on Thursday next.

‘Donations were received, and he used some of those funds for personal use