Turns out the woes of Bishop Obinim, rather than being over, are just on a little hiatus. The embattled founder and leader of the International Godsway Church (IGWC) is set to be dragged before court by the Electricity Company of Ghana for power theft.
On bail for a separate fraud allegation, ECG are now bringing their own case of fraud against Obinim, who allegedly fixed new metres at his home, guest house and tv station by his own volition after the old ones were disconnected by the power company for non-payment of debts owed.
According to the Loss Control Coordinator of the Company, Jonathan Asante, the action by the Bishop has led to the accumulation of a bill of Ghc 217,000, a pesewa of which has never been paid.
He had earlier accumulated a debt of Ghc 27,000, which led to the disconnection of his metres – but then he fixed the new ones anyway.
The company thus plans to drag Obinim before a specially convened court on September 3 to be compelled to pay the debts. Mr Asante, however, adds that paying the debts would not be the end of the matter.
“When you even pay, that is a recovery of the debt,” he said. “The crime itself and punishment comes with the law. So, paying the debt does not offset you from the criminal aspect of the issue.”
Obinim is currently on bail, after being accused of a Ghc 11.9m fraud by a businessman.