Over 35 pastors in Gulu under their umbrella–Fellowship of Born again Association –have written to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, the Inspector General of Police, among other government agencies demanding for fair hearing for their colleague Benjamin Oteka.
Oteka was reported to police by his wife, Carole Veazy Ward, with whom they are having a bitter divorce case. Ward accuses Oteka of embezzling over 350 million shillings, stealing a tractor and a music system belonging to Favor of God ministry. Ward is a director in the church.
In a letter dated December 24, 2015 signed by Janani Loum, the Gulu district overseer of the born again titled “Complaint in respect to case Ref No: CRB/2729/20013,’’ the pastors tell the DPP that they have evidence showing that the money Ward alleges Oteka stole from Favour of God Ministries was sent by one Rev.Dr Raymond Hannah of Evangelical Ministries Australia to Life Encounter Ministries registered in South Sudan and headed by Pastor Benjamin Oteka.
The pastors say the money, US dollars 100,000 was sent through Favor of God Ministry because Oteka’s Encounter Ministries did not have an account. Acholi Times could not establish the accuracy of the allegations of the pastors.
The pastors cite an email dated December 2013 by Raymond Hannah. The email, as quoted in the letter of the pastors to the director of public prosecution party reads: “The money was sent through Favor of God because there was no account that I was aware for Life Encounter Ministries that is registered in the Republic of South Sudan” read the email.
Acholi Times has also established that Pastor Benjamin Oteka was operating in South Sudan under Life Encounter Ministries which was registered in South Sudan on February 18, 2011.
In reference to the tractor, the pastors attached a document which shows that Carol Veazey Ward then still in good terms with her husband was a witness in the sale of the tractor.
In their letter, the pastors say the trouble between Benjamin Oteka and Carole Veazy Ward is one about a relationship gone bad.
Meanwhile on Monday Oteka was granted bail by the anti-corruption court in Kampala on paying[ in cash] 5 million shillings in bail money and presenting four sureties.
