COURT STRIKES OUT CASE AGAINST RCCG PASTOR OVER LACK OF PROSECUTION WITNESSES
Read Time:1 Minute, 9 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Wednesday struck out a case against a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Emmanuel Orekoya, who was accused of defiling his 17-year-old daughter.
Justice Abiola Soladoye discharged the cleric after ruling that the Lagos State Government, which filed the two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration, failed to produce a single witness despite 10 adjournments.
“This case is struck out for want of diligent prosecution,” Justice Soladoye declared. “After the arraignment of the defendant on February 26, 2024, no witness has appeared before this court to testify. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Describing the situation as a “colossal waste of judicial time,” the judge stated that the prosecution is at liberty to re-arrest the defendant and reopen the case once it is ready to present its witnesses.
The prosecution had alleged that Orekoya committed the offence in 2017 at Jacob Adeleye Street, Odoeran, Itire, in the Surulere area of Lagos, accusing him of inserting his penis into his daughter’s mouth—an offence said to contravene Sections 137 and 162 of the Lagos State Criminal Law (2015).
The defendant pleaded not guilty during his arraignment.
With the dismissal, Pastor Orekoya walks free, pending any future action by the prosecution to revive the case with supporting evidence.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0