The General Overseer of Sotitobire Miracle Centre, Akure, Prophet Alfa Babatunde, on Monday wept bitterly when he was arraigned before an Akure Magistrate Court, over a three-count charge of felony, destruction of evidence and kidnap.
The Prophet was dragged to the Court after spending about two weeks in the custody of the men of Department of Security Service, (DSS) over the disappearance of a one year toddler, Gold Kolawole, in his church on November 10, 2019, during church service.
The prophet who was joined by his church members present in the courtroom betrayed emotion and broke into uncontrollable tears as the prophet was assisted into a waiting black Maria after he was ordered to be remanded in prison by Magistrate Mrs Charity Adeyanju alongside six workers of the church.
The six other people remanded with the Prophet includes; Omodara Olayinka, Margaret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobu Motunrayo, Esther Kayode and Peter Anjorin.
They were alleged to be involved in the mysterious disappearance of the one-year-old boy and were said to be in charge of the church’s children department when the incident occurred.
The 42-year-old Prophet was charged before the court on a two-count charge, which the State Prosecutor said is punishable under the law.
According to the State Prosecutor, Joseph Dada, who said the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 5(i) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010 as well as punishable under Section 516 of Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. I, Laws of Undo State 2006.
Reading the charge sheet which read, “That you Prophet Alfa Babatunde ’m’, Omodara Olayinka ’f’, Margaret Oyebola ‘f’, Grace Ogunjobi ‘f’, Egunjobu Motunrayo ’f’, Esther Kayode ’f’, Peter Anjorin ‘m’ others now at large on the 10th day of November 2019 at about 11:45 am at Sotitobire Praising Chapel, No. 48, Solagbade Street, Oshinle Quarters, Akure, Ondo State in the Akure Magisterial District did conspire together to commit felony to Wit: Kidnapping and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. I, Laws of Undo State 2006.
“That you Prophet Alfa Babatunde ’m’, Omodara Olayinka ’f’, Margaret Oyebola ‘f’, Grace Ogunjobi ‘f’, Egunjobu Motunrayo ’f’, Esther Kayode ’f’, Peter Anjorin ‘m’ and others now at large on the 10th day of November 2019 at about 11:4Sam at Sotitobire Praising Chapel, No. 48, Solagbade Street, Oshinle Quarters, Akure, Ondo State in the Akure Magisterial District did aid the kidnap of one Gold Eninlaloluwa Kolawole ’m’ aged 13-month and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 5(i) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010.
“That you Peter Anjorin ‘m’ on the 10th day of December 2019 at about 2:00 pm at the premises of the Department of State Service, Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State in the Akure Magisterial District did destroy evidence by secretly taken away the vital evidence that would have aid speedy investigation in respect of the missing child (Gold Eninlaloluwa Kolawole) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. I, Laws of Ondo State 2006.”
