Cameroonian Pastor Accuses Nigerian Web Designer Of Fraud
New evidence has emerged in an alleged fraud case involving John Asanga, a Nigerian web designer, accused of defrauding Cameroonian pastor Jean-Michel Tchamba of nearly ₦40 million. Tchamba, who is based in the United Kingdom, claims Asanga misappropriated church funds and failed to deliver on a website development project.
The dispute began when Tchamba hired Asanga to create a website for his ministry, but after two years and substantial payments, the project remained incomplete. Tensions escalated when the pastor demanded backend access, which Asanga allegedly refused to provide.
According to Tchamba, a company he contracted to recover the website discovered that Asanga had linked his PayPal account to the church’s donation page, diverting funds for personal use. “The company also reported that Asanga had connected other websites to our site’s subdomain and was collecting money from them,” Tchamba told SaharaReporters.
Asanga’s sister, Blessing, previously accused Pastor Jean of using the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to have Asanga arrested before fleeing the country. However, the pastor refuted this, stating he had invited Asanga to a meeting in Abuja to resolve the dispute.
Beyond the website project, Tchamba said he entrusted Asanga with coordinating logistics for a medical conference in Abuja. Asanga allegedly received an advance of ₦4.5 million but failed to organize the event properly. Upon arrival in Abuja, Tchamba and his team discovered that no venue had been booked. Asanga reportedly claimed he had not confirmed the reservation due to unpaid balances. Eventually, Asanga’s sister intervened, securing a last-minute venue through her husband’s connections with the Ministry of Health.
Tchamba further accused Asanga of fabricating his IT credentials. “He claimed to have 14 engineers working under him, including individuals who had contributed to Nigeria’s electoral system. But upon investigation, we found that only two people were involved—himself and Mr. Devon,” the pastor alleged. A planned collaboration with Microsoft UK also reportedly fell apart when Asanga failed to meet expectations.
Following these disputes, Asanga was arrested by the NSCDC. Meanwhile, a company in Lagos was hired to recover the church’s online platforms, completing the work in three months.
Tchamba insists Asanga’s claims misrepresent the facts. “During the recovery process, it was confirmed that he had linked his PayPal account to our donation page, diverting funds. Additionally, he had connected other websites to our subdomain to generate revenue,” the pastor said.
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In response, John Asanga denied all allegations. “When I wrote to SaharaReporters, I only shared the truth—that they took me to Civil Defence,” he stated. Asanga dismissed claims that he operated a PayPal account, challenging Tchamba to provide evidence. “I’m in Nigeria; I don’t have a PayPal account. If he has proof, let him send it.”
Asanga maintained that all payments received were for legitimate services and denied linking external websites to the church’s domain. Regarding backend access, he claimed he withheld it due to unpaid balances. “Why would I hand it over when he was owing me?” he argued.
On the financial aspect, Asanga refuted the ₦40 million figure, estimating the total funds received at around ₦20-₦21 million, including payments for the conference. He also contested the claim that the project lasted two years, stating, “It’s less than a year.”
The case remains unresolved, with both parties maintaining their versions of events. While Tchamba asserts that his ministry has successfully moved past the ordeal, Asanga continues to defend himself against allegations of fraud.
As investigations continue, the legal proceedings will determine the veracity of the claims and counterclaims, shedding light on the true nature of the disputed transactions.
Content Credit | Agbetan Bisola
Image Credit | www.youtube.com
Source | www.gistmania.com
