Magistrate Eke Spiff, Wednesday, caused commotion in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State, when she ordered all journalists who came to cover a
case of obtaining by tricks against the founder of the God is Able
Mega Fire Ministry, Apostle Abiekunogho, out of her court.
Abiekunogho is standing trial for allegedly obtaining a Toyota
SUV and N20, 000 from a member of his church, Seiyefa Sayou,
through a false prophecy.
It was gathered that when the case resumed for hearing, the
visibly angry magistrate ordered reporters to leave her court.
She said: “All journalists should leave this court. We don’t do
sensational here, the last time you came here this issue was
reported in all the media, and this made people to call my phone
from all over the country, so much messages in my whatsapp. All the
journalists leave my court,”
The order by the magistrate emboldened the church members
sympathetic to their pastor to threaten the journalists, who left
the courtroom for the premises.
It was later learnt that the pastor reportedly asked his members
to deal with any journalist who tried to capture him with
camera.
Shortly after the court proceeding, it was gathered the pastor
was shielded by his members to deter journalists from taking his
photograph.
But as he made his way to a waiting vehicle, some journalists
were said to have taken some of his pictures.
The development angered the church members, who descended on the
journalists and gave them beating of their lives.
A reporter attached to the Silverbird was given a hot slap while
the correspondent of the TV Continental was beaten with his camera
damaged.
It was gathered that the church members threw caution to the
wind as they continued meting out violence on the reporters and
creating confusion in the area until policemen intervened to stop
them.
The case was adjourned to 24th March, 2018 for further
hearing.
Magistrate Eke Spiff, Wednesday, caused commotion in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State, when she ordered all journalists who came to cover a
case of obtaining by tricks against the founder of the God is Able
Mega Fire Ministry, Apostle Abiekunogho, out of her court.
Abiekunogho is standing trial for allegedly obtaining a Toyota
SUV and N20, 000 from a member of his church, Seiyefa Sayou,
through a false prophecy.
It was gathered that when the case resumed for hearing, the
visibly angry magistrate ordered reporters to leave her court.
She said: “All journalists should leave this court. We don’t do
sensational here, the last time you came here this issue was
reported in all the media, and this made people to call my phone
from all over the country, so much messages in my whatsapp. All the
journalists leave my court,”
The order by the magistrate emboldened the church members
sympathetic to their pastor to threaten the journalists, who left
the courtroom for the premises.
It was later learnt that the pastor reportedly asked his members
to deal with any journalist who tried to capture him with
camera.
Shortly after the court proceeding, it was gathered the pastor
was shielded by his members to deter journalists from taking his
photograph.
But as he made his way to a waiting vehicle, some journalists
were said to have taken some of his pictures.
The development angered the church members, who descended on the
journalists and gave them beating of their lives.
A reporter attached to the Silverbird was given a hot slap while
the correspondent of the TV Continental was beaten with his camera
damaged.
It was gathered that the church members threw caution to the
wind as they continued meting out violence on the reporters and
creating confusion in the area until policemen intervened to stop
them.
The case was adjourned to 24th March, 2018 for further
hearing.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/bayelsa-magistrate-walks-journalists-out-of-court/