Pastors remanded for allegedly telling congregants to disown parents, western education is evil

By Mumini Abdulkareem
An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday remanded two pastors, Olumide Peter and Jesulayomi Adetola for allegedly brainwashing their congregation to disown their biological parents and also burn their certificates.
The defendants were arraigned in court for the offences of Criminal Conspiracy, Unlawful Assembly, Wrongfully Confinement, putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion.
The offences, according to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) contravened sections 96, 100, 260 and 293 of the Penal Code Law.
They however pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read against them.
The NSCDC counsel, Barrister Ajide Kehinde, said that the defendants who were pastors at Evidence of Christ Fellowship International church, Agbo-Oba, Ilorin, reportedly kicked against Western Education claiming it’s a sin and any certificate acquired through it is evil.
He added that further investigation revealed that the pastors also urged the congregation to see acquisition of western education as ungodly.
Kehinde said that two children and four adult which were reportedly abducted by the pastors were rescued from their custody by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
According to him, the pastors have been extorting money from international organisations by sending recorded videos of the children claiming they’re victims of natural disasters and internally displace people.
He prayed the court to remand the said pastors on the basis that one of them is still at large adding that granting them bail might jeopardise effort to carry out proper investigation into the matter.
In his ruling Magistrate Ibrahim Dasuki ordered the defendants to be remanded at Oke-Kura Correctional Centre, Ilorin and adjourned the case till Jan. 28, for further mention.