Crime
Pastor, university lecturer dragged to court over alleged planted placenta on church altar
A pastor, John Abiodun and university lecturer, Dr Lane Olu- Adeyemi have being dragged before the Ondo State High Court, Akure for allegedly spreading fake news about the founder of a church, the Promised Land Prophetic Ministry in Akure, Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi.
Both defendants, Abiodun and Olu -Adeyemi were said to be members of the church before things fell apart between them and the church founder.
The duo were alleged to be involved in spreading false news on social media that the founder of the church, Akinbiyi, and it’s members, planted a placenta and a baby on the church’s altar.
The founder of the church also alleged that the defendants petitioned the police on the allegation.
During the investigation, a team of policemen reportedly went into the church and dug the altar but found nothing .
The defendants were dragged before the court on a seven count charge of conspiracy, publications of false news, perjury, impersonation, threatening violence amongst others.
The charge sheet read: “that John Abiodun and Lanre Olu-Adeyemi on about 09:00 hours, at Akure in the Akure judicial division conspired together to publish life threatening and inciting stories about one Ajidahun Emmanuel Jeminiyi which is punishable under Section 59 of the Criminal code, cap 37, vol. 1, Law of Ondo State 2006.“That John Abiodun and Lanre Olu-Adeyemi on or about 13th January 2019 at about 09:00hours, in Akure, in the Akure judicial division did publish on different whatsapp platforms various falsehood against Ajidahun Jeminiyi, perjury punishable under section 117 of the Criminal code, cap 37, vol. 1,Law of Ondo State 2006.“That John Abiodun on or about 24th June 2019, at about 13:00 hours at High Court Registry, Akure, deposed to an affifavit of oath against one Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi and Promiseland Prophetic Ministry, knowing that the depositions were false. This is punishable under section 484 of the criminal code, can 37, vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State.“That John Abiodun, on or about 13th January, 2019, in Akure through various social media platforms with a mobile number 09061720016 under the user name Fausat Seekers threatened to deal with one Ajidahun Jeminiyi and his family, which amounts to threatening violence, punishable under section 86 of the criminal code, Cap 37, vol 1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.”
However, the prosecutor, Barrister Bose Tunde-Alarape informed the court that it had been difficult to serve the second defendants, Lanre Olu-Adeyemi a notice of motion on the matter.
The judge, Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe, urged all counsels and parties involved in the matter to make the process of serving and appearance in the court more prompt and of importance, noting that there are constitutional backing and penalties in such respect.
Justice Adegbehingbe, however, ordered that the second defendant should be properly served with the court order.
The case was adjourned till January 30 and February 3, 18, 24 and 26, 2020 for the hearings.