BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—A prosecution witness 3, PW3, Dajok Dakung Godfrey, in the ongoing trial of Okewole Dayo and Bishop Jonas Katung, on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, narrated before Justice Sharon T. Ishaya of the Federal High Court, Jos, Plateau State, how he was allegedly defrauded of his hard-earned savings by the defendants, under the guise of investment in Fadama Multi-purpose Cooperative Society.
Dayo and Jonas are standing trial on a 23-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of ₦178,885,000 (One Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand Naira).
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Buba, the witness, a 42-year-old civil servant, narrated how he invested his money in a Cooperative promoted through a televised presentation.
“I got to know the defendant when he was making a presentation on television in May 2010,” he told the court. “Bishop Katung Jonas encouraged people to join the Covenant Fadama Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society. As a man of God, I believed what he was saying.”
According to him, he visited the cooperative’s temporary office at the former NICON Insurance building, Secretariat Road, Jos, on June 4, 2010, bought a registration form for ₦1,000 and made an initial deposit of ₦400,000.
He continued contributing until his total savings reached ₦3.9 million.
“They were paying 10% interest every month until December 2011 when a message came that we should hold on,” he said. “After waiting into 2012 without payment, members began to raise alarm.”
Godfrey told the court that the first defendant, Dayo, was introduced as the secretary and executive director of the cooperative, while Bishop Jonas identified himself as chairman or president.
He narrated that a committee of cooperators later met them at Lamond Hotel, Jos, where Bishop Jonas assured members that the matter would be resolved.
“After the meeting, we left with hope,” he said. “But nothing came out of it.”
With no solution in sight, cooperators engaged a legal counsel, Solomon Dalung, who petitioned the EFCC.
He identified receipts of payments issued by the cooperative and confirmed they bore his name and the amounts contributed. The document was tendered and admitted in evidence as Exhibit H.
He further told the court that aside from his savings, “1% was being removed from our money monthly to the tune of ₦261,000,”.
Under cross-examination by counsel to the first defendant, C.I. Nwogbo, the witness admitted that he did not make any direct payment to Dayo in person.
He also confirmed that the televised broadcast did not mention any partner and that he only knew Dayo when the crisis started.
He further identified his written statement made at the EFCC on August 14, 2014, which was admitted as Exhibit PW3A, affirming: “It is my handwriting, and it is the truth.”
When asked if Dayo’s name appeared as secretary in the cooperative’s bylaws, which was shown to him as Exhibit E, he answered in the negative. He maintained that his statement captured the details.
“I did not instruct them on what to do with my money,” he added. “My complaint to the EFCC was to recover my money and to investigate.”
Counsel to the second defendant, G.G. Achi, asked the witness whether he had known Bishop Jonas personally before the crisis. He answered:
“I knew him as a man of God. I attended one of his services, but I cannot remember the date.”
He confirmed seeing Bishop Jonas at the settlement meeting at Lamond Hotel, but added that he did not take minutes.
With no re-examination, Justice Ishaya adjourned the matter till February 19, 2026 for continuation of trial.
