By Kayode Adeoti
The Upper Area Court sitting at Centre Igboro in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday docked one Pastor, Adewumi Oyeniyi Okikiola of Ita-Elepa area for allegedly defrauding Mrs Oluwaseyi Esther Adegboyega who happened to be the wife of the High Court Chief Accountant, to the tune of N7.5million.
The clergyman was however dragged before Justice Makama on the offences of criminal breach of trust, extortion, cheating and criminal intimidation contrary to section 312, 292, 325, and 397(B) of the Penal Code.
The direct criminal complaint filed by the complainants’ counsel, Barr. Ismail Abdullazeez revealed that the said pastor who is the overseer of the Christ Adoration Gospel Church World Wide deceived his client to become member of his church.
“…one Okikiola represented himself as a pastor and holds himself out as an overseer of a church known as Christ Adoration Gospel Church World Wide encouraged our client to attend his church…” the charge sheet stated.
From July, 2015 to 9th August, 2018, it was noted that the accused person under the pretext of being a pastor had extorted Mrs Adegboyega to the tune of N7.5million adding that the monies were collected in tranches through threat and coercion.
The charged sheet alleged that Okikiola threatened the complainant with death and all manners of afflictions if she refused to pay the money within 24 hours.
“…Okikiola coerced and deceived our client to part with the sum of N7.5million which was obtained in tranches by threat that if she refuse to pay the said sum to him within 24 hours of demand, she would experience a number of afflictions with her family members and that it will result into death,” the direct complaint stated.
According to the charge sheet, the complainant complied strictly to the instructions of Okikiola in order to avert calamity from befalling her and her family.
But, upon the demand for her money after she was delivered of the Pastor Okikiola’s antics, the Direct Complaint maintained that she threatened Mrs Adegboyega with death.
“When our client was now delivered of all the antics of Okikiola, that made her demand for her money but she was threatened that her husband who is the Chief Accountant of Kwara State Judiciary and herself will die in January 2019 if she did not stop pressing for the refund.
The Direct Complaint further posited that the accused person threatened Mrs Adegboyega of inflicting her with stroke just as he did to one Iya Ruth. It said, anyone who confronts him will die saying he had killed many people who dared to challenge him.
After the complaint was read to the accused person, he informed the court that he was not guilty of all the offences, saying, “It was a total false”
In his submission, the complainant counsel noted that the matter is slated for motion adding that the accused person must not be admitted to bail.
He said his application against the bail of the accused person is premised on 341 (2) of the CPC reiterating that the accused person must not be admitted to bail.
He added that the offences of which the accused person is standing trial is not ordinarily bailable saying it will be dangerous to release him into the society.
“The court doesn’t know the accused from anywhere so it won’t be on a good note to release him on bail, the court doesn’t have any prove that the accused doesn’t have record of criminal offence…” Barr. Abdulazeez stressed.
The state Legal Aide Officer, Barr. Shina Ibiyemi however prayed the court to discountenance the submission of the complainant and admitted the accused to bail on liberal terms.
He said, bail is at the discretion of the court adding that the court should exercise its discretionary power judiciously and judicially.
“We urged the court to release the accused on self recognition or on liberal mode to ensure him prepare for his defence,” Ibiyemi urged.
The court in his ruling however admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1million and one surety in the like sum. The surety according to the judge must be Level-15 officer and must be residing within the jurisdiction of the court.
The case was however adjourned till 12 November, 2019 for hearing.
