A NIGERIAN entrepreneur arrested on suspicion of fraud over plans for a North-East airline owes thousands of pounds for his lavish wedding, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Businessman Victor Bassey – who declared that his company Excelsis Airways was “backed by God” – never paid for the church service for his marriage to fiancee Comfort Awunor.

He owes a further £2,000 to wedding photographers and videographers.

It is understood the reception venue, Bowburn Hall Hotel, near Durham City, only agreed to admit the wedding guests when a member of the bride’s family paid the bill on the day.

Mr Bassey was arrested by Cleveland Police’s fraud investigation team ten days ago after concerns were raised by former employees of Excelsis.

He was later released on bail pending further inquiries.

Mr Bassey married Miss Awunor at St Paul’s Church, in Spennymoor, in December last year.

The Reverend Lynda Gough confirmed that the church had not been paid for the ceremony.

Days before the wedding, Mr Bassey hired Middlesbrough- based Moving Picture Productions to produce a wedding video.

Directors Nicholas Donnelly and Andrew Stebulitis filmed the couple before, during and after the ceremony.

They then spent a week editing the video.

However, when they asked for their money, Mr Bassey said he was waiting for a cheque to come through and did not have it.

Mr Donnelly said the client handed over a cheque for £800 – £250 less than the bill – after asking to meet him behind McDonald’s in Middlesbrough town centre.

The cheque bounced.

Mr Bassey later failed to turn up to another meeting at the Thistle Middlesbrough Hotel.

Focal Point Photography, from Sunderland, was booked at the last minute.

The company is owed £995 and has not handed over the photographs taken on the day.

Focal Point partner David Armour said he would normally take a deposit, but on this occasion there was not enough time.

“I’ve been doing weddings for 22 years and I’ve never had any problems apart from this one, he said.

Mr Armour revealed how a taxi driver who had dropped off members of the wedding party wished him good luck.

When he asked why, the driver told him the bride’s brother was on the phone still trying to pay Bowburn Hall Hotel for the reception.

It is understood the venue was refusing to serve guests until it had been paid.

Mr Donnelly revealed how the groom arrived late at the church and then went into Spennymoor, apparently to buy wedding rings.

The bride also arrived late and the ceremony eventually got under way an hour after the scheduled start.

Mr Armour said the most bizarre thing was that, even though it started more than an hour late, guests were still arriving as the couple were saying their vows.

The wedding cake, in the shape of an aircraft, was baked by Celebration Cakes, of Peterlee. The company said it was paid on the day of the wedding, but not by groom.

There was no answer when The Northern Echo tried to contact Mr Bassey on his mobile phone.