The General Overseer of Sotitobire Miracle Centre, Akure, Prophet Alfa Babatunde, on Monday wept bitterly when he was arraigned before an Akure Magistrate Court, over a three-count charge of felony, destruction of evidence and kidnap.
The Prophet who was dragged to the Court after spending about two weeks in the custody of the men of
Department of Security Service, (DSS) over the disappearance of a one year toddler, Gold Kolawole, in his church on November 10, 2019, during church service.
The prophet who was joined by his church members present in the courtroom betrayed emotion and broke into uncontrollable tears as the prophet was assisted into a waiting black Maria after he was ordered to be remanded in prison by Magistrate Mrs Charity Adeyanju alongside six workers of the church.
The six other people remanded with the Prophet includes; Omodara Olayinka, Margaret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobu Motunrayo, Esther Kayode and Peter Anjorin.
They were alleged to be involved in the mysterious disappearance of the one-year-old boy and were said to be in charge of the church’s children department when the incident occurred.
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The 42-year-old Prophet was charged before the court on a two-count charge, which the State Prosecutor said is punishable under the law.
According to the State Prosecutor, Joseph Dada, who said the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 5(i) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010 as well as punishable under Section 516 of Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. I, Laws of Undo State 2006.
Reading the charge sheet which read, “That you Prophet Alfa Babatunde ’m’, Omodara Olayinka ’f’, Margaret Oyebola ‘f’, Grace Ogunjobi ‘f’, Egunjobu Motunrayo ’f’, Esther Kayode ’f’, Peter Anjorin ‘m’ others now at large on the 10th day of November 2019 at about 11:45 am at Sotitobire Praising Chapel, No. 48, Solagbade Street, Oshinle Quarters, Akure, Ondo State in the Akure Magisterial District did conspire together to commit felony to Wit: Kidnapping and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. I, Laws of Undo State 2006.
“That you Prophet Alfa Babatunde ’m’, Omodara Olayinka ’f’, Margaret Oyebola ‘f’, Grace Ogunjobi ‘f’, Egunjobu Motunrayo ’f’, Esther Kayode ’f’, Peter Anjorin ‘m’ and others now at large on the 10th day of November 2019 at about 11:4Sam at Sotitobire Praising Chapel, No. 48, Solagbade Street, Oshinle Quarters, Akure, Ondo State in the Akure Magisterial District did aid the kidnap of one Gold Eninlaloluwa Kolawole ’m’ aged 13-month and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 5(i) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010.
“That you Peter Anjorin ‘m’ on the 10th day of December 2019 at about 2:00 pm at the premises of the Department of State Service, Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State in the Akure Magisterial District did destroy evidence by secretly taken away the vital evidence that would have aid speedy investigation in respect of the missing child (Gold Eninlaloluwa Kolawole) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. I, Laws of Ondo State 2006.”
The Prosecutor officer prayed the court for the remand of the accused in prison custody pending the advice from the office of the Director for Public Prosecution (DPP).
However, the accused lawyer, Mr Sola Oke opposed the prosecutor’s application, but after an argument between the prosecutor and the counsel to the defendants, the Magistrate Mrs Charity Adeyanju, remanded all the accused into prison custody
The Magistrate ruled that she does not have the jurisdiction to try the alleged offences adding that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody pending the conclusion of investigation and arraignment at the High Court.
The embattled Prophet was ordered to be remanded in prison by Magistrate Charity Adeyanju alongside six workers of the church who were said to be in charge of the church’s children department when the incident occurred.
The case was subsequently adjourned till January 17, 2019.
Speaking to journalists after the sitting, Counsel to the accused persons, Barrister Olusola Oke said, “the prosecution presented two contradictory positions and in the first instance, there was an application filed on Friday where they alleged that the man, Babatunde confessed to an allegation of kidnapping.
“But quite surprising today, we challenged them to present the evidence of his confession but they did not bring something like that in court.
“Also to the contrary, we heard in the public domain of kidnapping, they were charged with conspiracy, and aiding kidnapping these are two different situations because if he actually kidnapped it would actually be brought to the public that he kidnapped but apparently they have nothing against him.
“For us as a lawyer, and we believe that if the man indeed culpable we believe very strongly in the rule of law that he should be punished. But at the same time, there is no need for us to crucify somebody against any evidence that he didn’t commit.”
One-year-old Gold was declared missing after the church programme at Sotitobire Miracle Centre after his mother, Mrs Modupe Kolawole dropped him at the church’s children department.
The Prophet was arrested by officials of the DSS following a petition by the missing boy’s parent over the alleged failure by the Nigerian Police to intervene in the situation.
The church was however set on fire by angry youths on December 18, 2019, over rumours that the corpse of the missing baby was exhumed from the church altar.