Justice Bode Adegbehingbe of the Ondo State High Court 5 sitting in Akure has adjourned the further hearing of a case of alleged planting of Placenta on the altar of Promisedland Prophetic Ministry, Akure.
The Judge adjourned till September 23, 28, 29 and 30, 2020 the ongoing trial that has to do with alleged issuance of threat messages to a member of the church, Mr Emmanuel Ajidahun via a WhatsApp platform in which the second defendant in the case, Prof. Lanre Olu-Adeyemi is an administrator.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr Kayode Dare had on July 6, 2020, closed his case in a ten count charge suit of alleged false publication, threatening violence, conspiracy, perjury and aiding impersonation levelled against a Clergyman, Pastor John Abiodun before the court.
The prosecutor had earlier called nine witnesses including bricklayers who built the Promisedland Prophetic Ministry building located on Akure-Owo expressway.
Alleged Planting Of Placenta On Church Altar In Akure
Other witnesses invited include supervisors in the projects, prosecuting police officer and the founder of the church, Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi.
However, counsel to the second defendant, Barr Femi Emmanuel Emodamori said he would only call one witness to exonerate his client, Prof Adeyemi.
At the resumed hearing, the defence continued its case with the cross-examination of Police Officer Azeez from Zone 11, Oshogbo who reiterated that the Legal Advice upon which the case is being prosecuted was birthed from an inconclusive investigation.
He also informed the Court that the preliminary investigative Police Officer who handled the case, Sgt Bello Kolapo has been subjected to departmental disciplinary action.
Another Police Officer, Ife Akinkuowo of the Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit, Akure also testified before the Court.
He stated that he took over the investigation of the case after Sgt Kolapo was accused of unprofessional conduct, bias, incivility to members of the public and corruption which informed the withdrawal of the case file from him (Sgt Kolapo).
Officer Ife Akinkuowo also testified that the second defendant, Prof. Lanre Olu-Adeyemi was not interrogated by him, on any matter.
A mild drama, however, ensued when the Police Officer who had earlier disowned some copies of SMS printout as alien to the case he handled later made a U-turn to say that the printouts were indeed included in the case file.
He explained that the documents were brought to him by the founder of Promisedland Prophetic Ministry, Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi and one Emmanuel Ajidahun but that he did not investigate the documents.
He said that the printouts were never mentioned by either Pastor Akinbiyi or Mr Ajidahun in their statements to the Police.
The Court had at its last sitting on 20th July 2020 admitted the video and photographs showing how the first defendant, Pastor Abiodun John was beaten by the preliminary IPO – Sergeant Bello Kolapo in the presence of the nominal complainant, Ajidahun Emmanuel Jeminiyi.
The video also showed how Abiodun John was being dictated to, while writing his statement and how he was made to prostrate among several dehumanising acts.
