Festus Balogun, 44, has been arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Police Command and is cooling his feet in police detention. The ex-convict has been under investigation and on the Ondo State Police Command wanted list for months following complaints by some pastors of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) that someone was blackmailing them for pecuniary gains.
The suspect, also known as “Smart” was released December last year from Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons after which he released a compact disk (video) in which he allegedly blackmailed the 12 pastors of the church.
He confessed to the Police that a marketer offered him the job to blackmail the 12 pastors for an initial pay of N300,000 and more money subsequently but the marketer turned the table and duped him instead.
The CD titled “Asiri Tu” (Secret Exposed) released by the marketer in conjunction with the suspect who claimed to have been engaged by the 12 pastors to kill for them in order to gain spiritual powers alleged that the pastors were also involved in ritual killing and other fetish acts.
A police source said; “Some prominent men of God, numbering 12 and namely: Pastor Samson Olueamodede of Prayer Centre Church of God, Idanre Road, Akure and Pastor Samuel Kayode Abiara, the General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide and ten others, engaged him to kill for them to gain spiritual power”
Balogun when paraded by the police in Akure confirmed that he had not been in contact with any of the listed men of God he made allegations against in his video and had never killed in his life. He added that he was convicted for cultism and imprisoned at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison prior to releasing the CD which according to him were lies aimed at extorting the listed pastors.
Balogun claimed that he was induced by a marketer in Ibafo, Ogun State, who promised to reward him with N300, 000 for the CD which was a quick money after his release from jail. Lamenting that the marketer has not given him anything after the release of the video.
Inside sources confirmed that the suspect had given useful information which would help in tracking down and arresting the marketer who’s on the run.