…conduct two separate marriage for abductees
The Upper Area Court, sitting in Ilorin the Kwara State capital yesterday docked Pastor Paul Olorunnishola Aremu of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Gbanyaminu, Ita Alamu area for allegedly abducting a female congregation member, one Adenike Funmilayo Awodire.
Pastor Aremu was said to have abducted Funmilayo since three years.
He was however dragged to court for the offence of abduction, defamation, intimidation and breach of trust.
The Direct Complaint filed by the parent of the abducted lady through their counsel, Isaac Adebayo, revealed that Funmilayo was declared missing about six (6) years ago and all effort to trace her proved abortive.
About three years ago, someone called the attention of the parents that their daughter is with Pastor Aremu, effort to recover her (Funmilayo) could not also yield any success as she ran away after sighting her parent, the charge sheet stressed.
The complaint also stated, “that after confronting the pastor that he deceitfully abducted their daughter, instead of him to release her, he started raining serious curses and further threatened to deal with them physically and spiritually.”
Giving reason for absconding from parent, Funmilayo said she was informed by Pastor Aremu that her mother is a witch and that whenever she steps into her parent’s house, she will die.
The direct complaint also stated that the pastor has conducted wedding introduction as well as marriage with two different men on different occasions with the lady, Funmilayo.
Pastor Aremu however denied the allegations leveled against him after it was read to him from the direct complaint by the court clerk.
Complainant counsel, Adebayo in his submission urged the court to remand the accused person (Pastor Aremu) in prison custody on the basis that the offence in the charge sheet are not ordinarily bailable.
He further urged the court to adjourn the matter for hearing.
The accused person’s counsel, Femi Makinde prayed the court to discountenance the submission of the complainant counsel.
He added that the accused is still presumed innocent until proved otherwise by the court asking the court to exercise its discretionary power to admit his client to bail on liberal terms.
Makinde further pleaded that his client will abide by the conditions of the court if admitted to bail.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Sunday granted Pastor Aremu bail in the sum of two hundred thousand naira and two sureties in like sum. The first surety must be a reputable clergyman in town while the other must have a landed property.
He however adjourned the matter to 23rd July, 2018
