Popular Celestial Church of Christ prophet, Israel Ogundipe, founder of Genesis Global Ministry, Lagos, revealed that a bank offered him a loan of N1 billion to help expand his ministry.
During a conversation with popular Nigerian On-Air Personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, also known as Daddy Freeze, Ogundipe shared that the bank, whose name he withheld, cited examples of churches that had received loans ranging from N3 billion to N4 billion.
Ogundipe explained that the bank approached him with confidence, believing that his church’s size would allow him to repay the loan through income generated from revivals, crusades, and conferences.
He questioned how the bank expected him to repay such a large sum, and they clarified that other churches had successfully done so by organizing regular events to raise funds.
“A bank called me two months ago and said they wish to loan me N1 billion. They offered me the loan and I asked them what for. They replied that they know churches are getting it (loan) and I would be able to pay it back because they know my church is big,” he said.
“Then I asked them how they want me to be paying back, and they said when we are doing revivals, crusades, we’ll be paying back monthly.”
In 2020, Ogundipe was convicted for defrauding a London-based architect and misappropriating her property for personal use.
He faced a seven-count charge, including stealing, unlawful property conversion, forgery, and fraudulently collecting N14 million and £12,000 between 2002 and 2005.
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