Missing Child: Court Remands Akure Prophet, Six Others in Prison
The Founder of Sotitobire Prayer Chapel located at Oshinle Quarters in Akure, Ondo State capital, Prophet Alfa Babatunde, yesterday betrayed emotion after the Magistrate’s Court, Akure ordered that he should be remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre for alleged conspiracy to kidnap and aiding kidnapping.
Alfa, who was arraigned along with six other members of the church, before Magistrate Charity Adeyanju, sitting at Oke-Eda, Akure, was alleged to have committed the offence on November 10, 2019 at about 11.45a.m. at Sotitobire Praising Chapel, No 48, Solagbade Street Oshinle quarters, Akure.
While Alfa and five others were arraigned on a two-count charge, the seventh accused person, Peter Anjorin was arraigned on a three-count charge.
The charge sheet reads, “That you, Prophet Alfa Babatunde, Omodara Olayinka, Margret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobi Motunrayo, Esther Kayode, Peter Anjorin, and others now at large on November 10, 2019 at about 11. 45a.m. at Sotitobire Praising Chapel, No 48, Solagbade Street, Oshinle Quarters, Akure, Ondo State, 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. 1 Laws of Ondo State.
“That you, Prophet Alfa Babatunde, Omodara Olayinka, Margret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobi Motunrayo, Esther Kayode, Peter Anjorin, and others now at large on the November 10, 2019 at about 11.45a.m. at Sotitobire Praising Chapel, No. 48, Solagbade Street, Oshinle Quarters, Akure, Ondo State, did aid the kidnap of one Gold Eninlaloluwa Kolawole, aged 13 months and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 5(i) of the Ondo State Anti-kidnapping and Antiabduction Law, 2010.
“That you, Peter Anjorin on November 10, 2019 at about 2p.m. at the premises of the Department of State Services, Alagbaka, Akure did destroy evidence by secretly taking away the vital evidence that would have aided 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 prosecuting counsel, Mr. Joshua Dada who prayed the court to remand the accused person in prison custody for further investigation, said if the Prophet was given bail, it would jeopardise their investigation.
The magistrate thereafter ruled that she does not have the jurisdiction to try the alleged offences and ordered him to be remanded in prison custody pending the conclusion of investigation and obviously arraignment at the High Court.
The Magistrate adjourned the matter till January 17, 2019.
As the prison officials marched Alfa and other accused out into the waiting prison vehicle, he burst into tears just as members of his church in the court premises.