A pastor and authorized practitioner, Aka-Bashorun Olawale Akanni, was on Wednesday re-arraigned earlier than Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State Excessive Courtroom, Ikeja, for the alleged indecent assault of a 14-year-old girl.
The Lagos State Authorities introduced Akanni earlier than the courtroom on a one-count cost of indecent therapy of a kid.
In keeping with the cost, the defendant, who serves as a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, was accused of fondling the breasts of a minor in the Iwaya space of Lagos.
The prosecution counsel, Funmilola Aluko, advised the courtroom that the offence violated Part 135 of the Lagos State Prison Legislation, 2015, which prohibits the indecent therapy of kids.
Akanni, nevertheless, pleaded not responsible to the cost.
Following his plea, defence counsel, Morenikeji Oyekunle, urged the courtroom to permit her consumer to proceed on the bail beforehand granted by a Justice of the Peace’s Courtroom, noting that he had met all circumstances and posed no flight danger, given his standing as a lawyer and clergyman.
However Aluko opposed the request, asking the courtroom to overview the bail phrases.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi upheld the bail circumstances earlier set by the decrease courtroom and directed the defence to make sure the defendant’s constant look in any respect trial dates.
Shortly after the ruling, the prosecution knowledgeable the courtroom that the complainant, now 27 years previous, was current and able to testify.
Led in proof by the prosecution, the witness recounted how she met the defendant by way of her father, who was a member of Akanni’s church on Lagos Island.
She testified that in 2010, at about eight years previous, she went to dwell with the defendant’s household to enhance her teachers and take part in the church choir.
Nevertheless, throughout her keep, the defendant allegedly molested her sexually and bodily, fondling her and subjecting her to extreme punishments each time she carried out poorly in college.
In keeping with her, she later fled the defendant’s dwelling and knowledgeable her mother and father concerning the alleged abuse.
The witness defined that she solely formally lodged a criticism in 2023 after listening to of one other alleged incident involving a minor inside the identical church.
Below cross-examination, she mentioned she had earlier confided in her class instructor, Mrs Akingbeoyewa, concerning the alleged molestation whereas nonetheless residing with the defendant.
On the shut of her testimony, the defence sought an adjournment to acquire a Licensed True Copy of her proof.
The prosecution opposed the applying, arguing that additional delays may trigger emotional misery to the witness.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi granted the adjournment however invoked Part 193 of the Administration of Prison Justice Legislation, ACJL, awarding a value of N50,000 in favour of the witness, to be paid by the defence earlier than the subsequent sitting.
The decide adjourned the case till December 9, 2025, for continuation of the trial.
