Prophet Babatunde, Founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, will know his fate tomorrow, as the Appeal Court delivers judgment on his case
By Kehinde Okeowo
An Ondo State Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, will deliver judgment, tomorrow, Friday, November 3, on the case brought before it by Prophet Alfa Babatunde, a.k.a. Prophet Sotitobire.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment by a High Court for his role in the case of a child who was missing in his church.
The Court of Appeal had in September reserved judgment in the case, which was filed by the prophet, who is the Founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Akure.
According to Roving Reporter, one of the counsels in the matter said the court has reached out to them that the judgment will be delivered on Friday.
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Prophet Alfa had in September asked the Appeal Court to nullify his life sentence conviction by the Ondo State High Court over the disappearance of one-year-old, Gold Kolawole, in his Church, in 2019.
Presenting his brief to the judges, the counsel to the prophet, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, said the high points of his appeal are the charges of conspiracy and aiding and abetting kidnapping against his client.
He said that the High Court’s judgment was based on the investigation of the DSS, who took over the matter from the police.
Awomolo argued that the premise for the conclusion of the lower court cannot stand because DSS does not have the power to take over the investigation from the Police.
The counsel also said his client was convicted by the court based on circumstantial evidence and not accounts of an eyewitness or any confession.
He, therefore, prayed the court to set aside the judgment of the High Court which convicted the appellant and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Countering the argument of the counsel to the accused, the prosecution, led by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye, argued that the Appeal Court should dismiss the defendant’s argument.
Tititloye argued that the DSS took over the investigation because there was a threat to law and order when the issue of the missing child broke out.
He also said it was based on the crisis that erupted that the DSS took over the case, he urged the Appeal Court to uphold the judgment of the High Court.
The presiding Justice, Rita Nosakhare Pemu, after listening to the arguments of both counsels, reserved judjudgment a date that would be communicated to all parties.
