profile/2288DSC_0365.JPG
Wumxy2002
Parents Of The Missing Boy At Sotitobire Church In Akure Speaks After The Judgement.
~4.1 mins read
Temitope Kolawole, the father of the missing child who spoke briefly to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, said he would prefer to remain silent over the judgement, noting that his lawyer would soon talk on behalf of the family.
As reactions continued to trail the life imprisonment slammed on Prophet Alfa Babatunde, the founder of the Sotitobire Miracle Centre Akure, in Ondo State, over the disappearance of a toddler, Gold Eniola Kolawole, in his church, parents of the missing boy said that life had become difficult for them without their child.
Temitope Kolawole, the father of the missing child who spoke briefly to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, said he would prefer to remain silent over the judgement, noting that his lawyer would soon talk on behalf of the family.
He said, "We have heard the judgement. It is good, but we have been briefed and advised by our lawyer that we should still hold on for an interview with the press.
"So, I won't comment now on the judgement, but it has not been easy for us throughout the ten months, and I wouldn't want to say more than that."
Prophet Babatunde was Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment by an Ondo State High Court over the case of the missing child.
BREAKING: Ondo Prophet Sentenced To Life Imprisonment Over Missing Child | Sahara Reporters https://t.co/SS9tfxmY1Rpic.twitter.com/0jBzS9d4X4
The jail term was slammed on the popular Akure prophet by Justice Olusegun Odunsola of the State High Court in Akure, ten months after the child was declared missing at the church.
He was jailed alongside six other defendants: Omodara Olayinka, Margaret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobi Motunrayo, Esther Kayode, and Anjorin Gbenga.
It will be recalled that on November 10, 2019, the one-year-old boy was declared missing during a Sunday service at the popular Sotitobire Church.
This led to the arrest of the prophet by the police for interrogation following complaints from the parents.
The boy's disappearance also led to burning of the church, located at Oshinle area of Akure, by the people in the area after a story went viral that the police had exhumed the corpse of the boy from the altar of the church. Although the information later proved to be false.
On December 10, 2020, the Department of the State Services re-arrested Babatunde and took over the case after a petition from the parents of the missing child.
After a series of interrogation by the DSS, the prophet was arraigned at the Magistrates Court sitting in Akure on a six-count charge on December 23, 2019, alongside the six other members of his church.
They were charged for conspiracy to commit felony to wit aiding and abetting abduction while their offences were a breach of Section 5 of Ondo State Anti-kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law 2010.
The 7th defendant, Anjorin, had a one-count charge of destroying evidence which is punishable under the criminal laws of Ondo State.
The defendants were remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Services in Ondo State at the Olokuta Prison in Akure.
The matter was later transferred to the State High Court.
After ten months of legal battle, Justice Odusola finally convicted Babatunde and other defendants, having found them guilty "based on the circumstantial evidence" presented by the prosecution.
Earlier before his judgement, Odunsola said evidence showed that Modupe Kolawole handed over his son to the head usher, Margaret Oyebola, during the Sunday service.
He said the lackadaisical attitude of the prophet, immediately he was told the boy had gone missing, and conspiracy of silence by the teachers in the children's department was intentional and calculated to cover their strange deal to run away with the child.
Justice Odusola also accused the Police B Division Akure of compromising and serving as a tool of oppression for the prophet in the case of the missing boy.
The judge, after that, sentenced the prophet to life imprisonment alongside the convicted church members.
profile/2288DSC_0365.JPG
Wumxy2002
Buari And Tinubu Won't Be Attending APC Final Tally In Ondo State
~3.5 mins read
Ahead of this Saturday’s governorship elecÂtion in Ondo State, President Muhammadu Buhari will not attend today’s grand finale rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Daily IndeÂpendent has gathered.
A presidency source told our correspondent that the president who has a very busy itinerary today will be repreÂsented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Our correspondent also gathered that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the party, will also not be in attendance.
A top party source and close associate of the former Lagos State governor said while he is in total support of Akeredolu’s reelection, his decision to stay away from the rally “may be due to preÂcautionary measures owing to the COVID-19 pandemicâ€.
He, however, said several serving state governors, depÂuty governors, former goverÂnors and serving ministers will be led to the rally by GovÂernor Mai Mala Buni, who is chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, who is the chairman of the National Campaign Council of the APC in Ondo State.
Tinubu was present during the flag-off of the party’s camÂpaign in September where he also commissioned some projÂects completed by Akeredolu.
The rally will mark the end of campaign activities of the party’s candidate, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his runÂning mate, Lucky Ayedatiwa.
“The president will not attend the rally and that has been communicated to the APC leadership in Ondo State. He will be represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajoâ€, our source stated.
In a related development, Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, has said residents of the state will be making a very wise deÂcision by re-electing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for second term in office.
Speaking with Daily IndeÂpendent, Ojogo noted that the reelection of Akeredolu for a second term of four years would allow the governor to consolidate on his achieveÂments and deliver on his camÂpaign promises to the electorÂate.
Ojogo, who said Akeredolu is contesting on a tripod of hard work, performance and integrity, added that the people of Ondo knows the governor as a honest and forthright polÂitician who will not promise what he cannot do.
He said replacing the goverÂnor will amount to abandonÂing major ongoing projects in the state such as the Deep Sea Port and other laudable projects the governor couldn’t complete in his first term.
“Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has performed creditably well in his first term in office. He is determined to do more if given the opportuÂnity to come back for a second term.
“The administration of Governor Akeredolu has initiated the process of esÂtablishing a deep sea port in Ondo State. Only his return for a second term can drive this process through. Else, all the progress made on the deep sea port will be abandoned by another governor just like Mimiko abandoned it for eight years.
“There are new projects that cannot be finished in his first term. There is a need to return him for a second term so that these projects will not be abandoned. Despite the various projects he has comÂpleted, Governor Akeredolu is still initiating new projectsâ€.
Advertisement
Link socials
Matches
Loading...