By: Oladimeji Abitogun, Olawale Oladele and Rachael Olokungboye
An Akure High Court on Tuesday pronounced the founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Prophet Babatunde Alfa and five of his church workers guilty of aiding and abetting child kidnapping in the missing of baby Kolawole Gold.
Court Three of the Ondo State High Court presided over by Hon Justice Odushola found Prophet Babatunde Alfa and five other co-defendants guilty in the first count of conspiracy to commit the crime of child kidnapping for which they are to spend seven years in prison with hard labour. The court found them guilty in the second count namely aiding and abetting child kidnapping and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The sentences are to run concurrently.
On count one all the six accused were sentenced to seven years imprisonment with hard labour. On the second count, namely allegation of aiding and abetting child kidnapping, all six accused were sentenced to life imprisonment. On count three, namely suspected destruction of vital evidence on computers and mobile phone, the Judge discharged and acquitted the seventh accused, Peter Anjorin, for lack of evidence.
An expectant crowd had gathered around the premises of the Ondo State High Court on Oba Osupa Road, Akure awaiting the arrival of Pastor Alfa and his disciples. The crowd who had become a polarized jury before the suspects were brought to the Court premises in Nigerian Correctional Service Black Maria, had to be cowed into silence with gunshots from security operatives within the vicinity.
The embattled Prophet, wearing a nose mask, came down from the truck and was guided, closely followed by other accused persons, towards buckets of water, soap and disinfectant, crucial observation of the protocols against COVID-19 pandemic before being led into the court. He was initially clapping and singing, thereafter he was led with co-defendants, with whom he held hands and prayed, before the proceedings continued. His Lawyers have vowed to appeal the verdict.