Nigerians press T&T for info on ‘prophetess’ Pena

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission sought information on Juliana Pena in June last year, saying it “has become imperative” to obtain that information. The commission said it was “investigating a case” involving Pena and had information that she frequently visited Nigeria. The commission wrote to the T&T High Commission in Abuja on June 23, 2011 asking for details on her. Pena was the alleged “spiritual adviser” to former prime minister Patrick Manning.

There also were allegations that the Light of the World Ministries Church in the Heights of Guanapo, Arima, was being built at a cost of $30 million and was being funded by taxpayers. Foreign Affairs Minister Suruj Rambachan said in the Senate on Tuesday Nigeria’s EFCC was investigating Pena.

Yesterday Rambachan supplied the T&T Guardian with a faxed copy of a letter from the EFCC to the T&T High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria. The EFCC asked for Pena’s address in Nigeria, her e-mail address and phone number, passport number and “any other useful information that may assist our investigation.”

It was signed by Ahmad Abdurrahman, deputy director of operations at the EFCC. Rambachan said the last known information that T&T has on Pena was she was in Abuja in 2010. He said Government was not doing any probe and the investigation was in the hands of the Nigerian authorities.