Ireland Former pastor sentenced for theft and fraud at Naas Circuit Court
Ebenezer Oduntan, a 58-year-old naturalised Irish citizen and former pastor of the City of David Church in Naas, Co Kildare, was convicted of 87 charges of theft and fraud after a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court in March 2024. He had sole access to the church's accounts between 2012 and 2020 and was found to have stolen more than €125,000, including cheques up to €20,000 made payable to him personally, while also running a fraud that inflated donations to generate extra Revenue payments. The case followed an investigation by the Corporate Enforcement Authority. On 26 April 2024, Judge Martina Baxter sentenced him to seven years for the deception charges, six and a half years for the theft convictions and three and a half years for false information to the Companies Registration Office, all to run concurrently, with the final six months suspended and custody backdated to 13 March 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted13 Mar
- Sentenced26 Apr
3 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ebenezer Oduntan, a 58-year-old naturalised Irish citizen and former pastor of the City of David Church, was convicted of 87 charges of theft and fraud involving more than €125,000.
- As pastor, Oduntan had sole access and control of the church's accounts between 2012 and 2020 and stole funds including cheques up to €20,000 made payable to him personally.
- The Corporate Enforcement Authority alleged Oduntan ran a fraud that inflated donations to the church so that Revenue reimbursed more than it should under the Charitable Donation Scheme.
- Where
- The church has been based in Naas Enterprise Park, Naas, Co Kildare since 2015, and the trial took place at Naas Circuit Criminal Court.
- When
- The thefts occurred between 2012 and 2020, the three-week trial concluded with guilty verdicts on 13 March 2024, and sentencing followed on 26 April 2024.
- Investigation
- The case followed an investigation by the Corporate Enforcement Authority, the Republic's company law enforcement agency.
- Charges
- Oduntan faced 73 counts of theft, five counts of deception and nine offences in breach of company law, and 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.
- In court
- Judge Martina Baxter presided over the three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court and described the scheme as very prolonged, premeditated and well-planned.
- Sentence
- Oduntan was sentenced to seven years for the deception charges, six and a half years for the theft convictions and three and a half years for false information to the CRO, all to run concurrently, with the final six months suspended and custody backdated to 13 March 2024.
- Other details
- Bank account analysis found Oduntan passed five times more than his declared income through his accounts for 2012 to 2018, and none of the stolen money has been recovered.
36 statements extracted from the articles
- whatEbenezer Oduntan was convicted of theft charges involving more than €125,000. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEbenezer Oduntan was convicted of all 87 charges he faced. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEbenezer Oduntan was convicted of 87 charges of theft and fraud offences. (rte.ie)
- whatOduntan had sole access and control of the church's accounts between 2012 and 2020. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatOduntan stole church funds, including cheques up to €20,000 made payable to him personally. (rte.ie)
- whatEbenezer Oduntan, a former pastor of the City of David Church, was convicted of 87 charges of theft and fraud offences. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe Corporate Enforcement Authority claimed Oduntan ran a fraud that inflated donations to the church so that Revenue reimbursed more than it should under the Charitable Donation Scheme. (thejournal.ie)
- 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 trial took place at Naas Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- whereThe church has been based in Naas Enterprise Park since 2015. (rte.ie)
- whereThe church has been based in Naas Enterprise Park, Naas, Co Kildare, since 2015. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- causeEbenezer Oduntan ran a fraud that generated payments from the Revenue Commissioners. (irishtimes.com)
- causeAs pastor, Oduntan had sole access and control of the church's accounts between 2012 and 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationHe was investigated by the Corporate Enforcement Authority, the Republic's company law enforcement agency. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe case followed an investigation by the Corporate Enforcement Authority. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted of nine company law offences, 73 counts of theft and five counts of deception. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeOduntan faced 73 counts of theft, five charges of deception and nine offences in breach of company law. (rte.ie)
- chargeOduntan admitted guilt to 19 counts of theft, five counts of deception and nine charges of providing false information to the Companies Registration Office midway through his trial. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial concluded with guilty verdicts at Naas Circuit Court after a three-week hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAfter the verdicts, he was remanded in custody by Judge Baxter. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge described the scheme as very prolonged, premeditated and well-planned. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said Oduntan knew exactly what he was doing. (rte.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. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceOduntan was sentenced to seven years in prison on the deception charges. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe final six months of all sentences were suspended, with custody backdated to 13 March 2024. (rte.ie)
- sentenceOduntan was sentenced to seven years on 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. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe final six months of all sentences were suspended, with his prison time backdated to 13 March 2024. (thejournal.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)
- otherBank account analysis found he passed five times more than his declared income through his accounts for 2012-2018. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNone of the stolen money has been recovered from Oduntan. (rte.ie, thejournal.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- 27 Apr2024Ex-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 - 26 Apr2024Former pastor who stole over €125,000 from Kildare-based church sentenced to 6.5 years in prison
Adds the conviction on 87 charges after a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court, the admissions made midway through the trial, the sentence terms (seven years for deception, six and a half years for theft, three and a half years for false information to the CRO), the suspended final six months, and backdating to 13 March 2024.
convicted, Ebenezer Oduntan, 58, male, Irish, named, irishEbenezer Oduntan - 26 Apr2024Ex-pastor jailed for theft of €125k from Kildare church
Reports the sentencing at Naas Circuit Criminal Court: six-and-a-half years for theft, seven years for deception and three-and-a-half years for false information to the CRO, all concurrent, with the final six months suspended and custody backdated to 13 March 2024.
convicted, Ebenezer Oduntan, 58, male, Irish, named, irishEbenezer Oduntan - 13 Mar2024Kildare pastor convicted on 87 charges, including theft of €125,000
Reports the guilty verdicts on all 87 charges after a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Court, the CEA's role in the investigation, the bank account analysis for 2012-2018, and that Mr Oduntan was remanded in custody.
convicted, Ebenezer Oduntan, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ebenezer Oduntan