Court Remands Two Pastors For Allegedly Brainwashing Congregation To Disown Parents, Burn Certificates

An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday, remanded two pastors:
Olumide Peter and Jasulayomi Adetola, for allegedly brainwashing
their congregation to disown their biological parents and burn
their certificates.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants were
charged with criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, wrongful
confinement and putting persons in fear of injury in order to
commit extortion.

The Magistrate, Ibrahim Dasuki, ordered the defendants to be
remanded in Oke-Kura Correctional Centre, Ilorin.

He, thereafter, adjourned the case till January 28, for further
mention.

Earlier, Counsel to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC), Mr Ajide Kehinde, said that two children and four adults,
who were reportedly abducted by the pastors, were rescued by the
corps.

He said that the defendants, who are pastors at Evidence of
Christ Fellowship International Church, Agbo-Oba, Ilorin, kicked
against Western education, claiming that it was a sin and that any
certificate acquired through it was evil.

Kehinde said that the pastors had been extorting money from
international organisations by sending recorded videos of the
children, claiming that they were victims of natural disasters and
internally-displaced persons.

Kehinde said further investigation revealed that the pastors
kicked against Western education, urging its congregation to see it
as ungodly.

He said that the offences were contrary to Sections 96, 100, 260
and 293 of the Penal Code Law.

The counsel prayed the court to remand the defendants on the
basis that one of them was still at large.

He said that releasing the defendants on bail might jeopardise
efforts to carry out proper investigation into the matter.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges
preferred against them.

An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday, remanded two pastors:
Olumide Peter and Jasulayomi Adetola, for allegedly brainwashing
their congregation to disown their biological parents and burn
their certificates.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants were
charged with criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, wrongful
confinement and putting persons in fear of injury in order to
commit extortion.

The Magistrate, Ibrahim Dasuki, ordered the defendants to be
remanded in Oke-Kura Correctional Centre, Ilorin.

He, thereafter, adjourned the case till January 28, for further
mention.

Earlier, Counsel to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC), Mr Ajide Kehinde, said that two children and four adults,
who were reportedly abducted by the pastors, were rescued by the
corps.

He said that the defendants, who are pastors at Evidence of
Christ Fellowship International Church, Agbo-Oba, Ilorin, kicked
against Western education, claiming that it was a sin and that any
certificate acquired through it was evil.

Kehinde said that the pastors had been extorting money from
international organisations by sending recorded videos of the
children, claiming that they were victims of natural disasters and
internally-displaced persons.

Kehinde said further investigation revealed that the pastors
kicked against Western education, urging its congregation to see it
as ungodly.

He said that the offences were contrary to Sections 96, 100, 260
and 293 of the Penal Code Law.

The counsel prayed the court to remand the defendants on the
basis that one of them was still at large.

He said that releasing the defendants on bail might jeopardise
efforts to carry out proper investigation into the matter.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges
preferred against them.