Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6004Theft and fraud · Co. Kildare

Former pastor sentenced for stealing over €125,000 from Kildare church

Ebenezer Oduntan, an Irish man aged 58, was a pastor of the City of David Church in Naas, Co Kildare, a branch of the Nigerian-based Redeemed Christian Church of God. He had sole access and control of the church's accounts from 2012 to 2020 and was accused of stealing more than €125,000. Following an investigation by the Corporate Enforcement Authority, he admitted guilt to some charges during a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court and was convicted of 87 charges of theft and fraud offences. He was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, backdated to 13 March 2024, with the final six months suspended, as reported on 27 April 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Ebenezer Oduntan, an Irish man aged 58, a former pastor of the City of David Church in Naas, Co Kildare, was convicted of 87 charges of theft and fraud offences (one source spells the name Odutan).
  • The City of David Church is a branch of the Nigerian-based Redeemed Christian Church of God.
  • Oduntan was accused of stealing more than €125,000 from the church.
Where
The church has been based in Naas Enterprise Park, Naas, Co Kildare, since 2015.
When
Oduntan had sole access and control of the church's accounts between 2012 and 2020.
Investigation
The case followed an investigation by the Corporate Enforcement Authority.
Charges
Midway through the trial, Oduntan admitted guilt to 19 counts of theft, five counts of deception and nine charges of providing false information to the Companies Registration Office.
In court
The trial was a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court, and Judge Martina Baxter imposed the sentence.
Sentence
  • Oduntan was sentenced to six and a half years in prison overall.
  • He received seven years for the deception charges, six and a half years for the theft convictions and three and a half years for providing false information to the CRO, all to run concurrently.
  • The final six months of all sentences were suspended.
  • His time in prison is backdated to 13 March 2024, when he was first placed in custody.
Other details
  • One headline describes the sentence as almost seven years, while the article text and key facts give six and a half years.
  • Oduntan is a married father of four from Curragh Grange, Newbridge.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOduntan was convicted of 87 charges of theft and fraud offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOduntan was accused of stealing more than €125,000 from his church. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe church has been based in Naas Enterprise Park, Naas, Co Kildare, since 2015. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenOduntan had sole access and control of the church's accounts between 2012 and 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe case followed an investigation by the Corporate Enforcement Authority. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial was a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Martina Baxter imposed the sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceOduntan was sentenced to six and a half years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceOduntan received seven years for the deception charges, six and a half years for the theft convictions and three and a half years for providing false information to the CRO, all to run concurrently. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe final six months of all sentences were suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceOduntan's time in prison is backdated to when he was first placed in custody on 13 March 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOduntan admitted guilt on 19 counts of theft, five counts of deception and nine charges of providing false information to the Companies Registration Office midway through his trial. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Apr2024
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Ex-pastor jailed for stealing more than €125,000 from Kildare-based church

    Reports the sentencing after a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court, the breakdown of sentences, and the backdating to custody from 13 March 2024.

    convicted, Ebenezer Oduntan, 58, male, Irish, named, irishEbenezer Oduntan