Hundreds of congregants of the International God’s Way Church have massed up at the Nima Police station to demand the release of their founder Bishop Daniel Obinim.

The controversial and divisive pastor was detained at the Nima Police station on Tuesday and spent the night in Police cells after his arrest for an GHC11.6 million fraud.

Obinim was arrested in Tema and transferred to the Accra Police headquarters for questioning. He was later charged for defrauding under false pretense.

Public Relations Officer of the Police CID ASP Joseph Benefo Darkwa stated a complaint was lodged with the Police in Tema a few weeks ago by a businessman who said he gave an amount of GH¢780,000 to Okomfo Gyapata of Mampong Nkwanta near Koforidua in the Eastern region to do a spiritual ritual to bless the money obtained from a gold deal.

ASP Darkwa narrated that the complainant added after some time, he realised that the Okomfo was not able to help him neither was he able to return his money, so he went to Bishop Obinim to help him retrieve the money and do the rituals to bless the money for him.

ASP Darkwa said it was based on that, that Bishop Obinim asked the businessman to bring the rest of the gold money which amounted to GH¢11.6 million belonging to the family.

The complainant told the police since he gave the money to the Bishop in November last year, Obinim has not been able to do what he was expected to do neither has he given him back his money.

Hundreds of his congregants who have massed up at the Police station claim that Obinim is innocent and must be released.

He is likely to be transferred to the CID headquarters this morning for interrogation.

In a related development ASP Darkwa has also confirmed that Obinim and one of his associates have been charged with physical and verbal assault for flogging a pregnant girl and her boyfriend.