Missing Child In Akure Church: Prophet Alfa Babatunde, ‘sotitobire’, Six Others Remanded In Prison

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

The founder of Sotitobire Miracle Centre, Oshinle Quarters in Akure, the state capital, Prophet Alfa Babatunde popularly known as ‘Ipe to Shaana (Strong Calling), has been remanded at the olokuta correctional centre by an Ondo state Magistrate court over counts of conspiracy to kidnap and aiding kidnapping.

Prophet Babatunde who was arraigned before Magistrate Charity Adeyanju, sitting at Oke-Eda, Akure alongside with six people by the Department of State Services (DSS), were said to have committed the offence on 10th November, 2019 at about 11:45am at Sotitobire Praising Chapel, No 48, Solagbade street Oshinle quarters Akure, Ondo state.

The charge sheet reads, “That you Prophet Alfa Babatunde, Omodara Olayinka, Margret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobi Motunrayo, Esther Kayode, Peter Anjorin, and others now at large on the 10th November, 2019 at about 11:45am at Sotitobire Praising Chapel, No 48, Solagbade street Oshinle quarters Akure, Ondo state did conspired together to commit felony to wit, kidnapping and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of criminal code cap 37 vol 1 laws of Ondo state.

“That you Prophet Alfa Babatunde, Omodara Olayinka, Margret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobi Motunrayo, Esther Kayode, Peter Anjorin, and others now at large on the 10th November, 2019 at about 11:45am at Sotitobire Praising Chapel, No 48, Solagbade street Oshinle quarters Akure, Ondo state did aid the kidnap of one Gold Eninlaloluwa Kolawole aged 13 month and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 5(i) of the Ondo state anti-kidnapping and anti-abduction law, 2010.

“That you Peter Anjorin on the 10th November, 2019 at about 2pm at premises of the Department of State Services, Alagbaka, Akure did destroy evidence by secretly taken away the vital evidence that would have aid speedy investigation in respect of the missing child (Gold Eninlaloluwa Kolawole) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 123 of criminal code cap 37 vol I laws of Ondo state 2006”.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Joshua Dada who prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody for further investigation saying if they were given bail, it would jeopardize their investigation.

Counsel to the accused person, Alfa Babatunde, Barrister Olusola Oke who spoke with journalists outside after the court proceeding said, “There was an arraignment of Alfa Babatunde with some members of the Church before the magistrate on the allegation in respect of a missing child.

“But it is important for us to bring this to the knowledge of the general public contrary to insinuation and an allegation that they have shave his beard and his hair. It is obvious today that such was not happened. The prosecution presented two contradictory position and in the fist instance, there was an application filed on Friday where they alleged that the man, Babatunde confessed to the allegation of kidnapping. But quiet surprising today, we challenged them to present the evidence of his confessional statement but they did not bring something like that to court.

“They were charged with conspiracy, and aiding kidnapping these are two different situation because if he actually kidnapped, it would actually brought to the public that he kidnapped but apparently they have noting against him. For us as lawyer, and we believe that if the man indeed culpable we believe very strongly in the rule of law that he should be punished. But at the same time, there is no need for us to crucify somebody against any evidence that he didn’t committed.

“As at now there is no evidence leveled against him, that led to the burning the Church last week and there was no body exhumed in the Church, no evidence was established from the alter. For us as lawyer we are not interested offering undue confer canopy of our clients, but we are interested in truth and justice. And justice means, innocent should not be punished but someone who is culpable should be punished.

“But at the end of the proceeding, magistrate ruled that she does not have the jurisdiction to try the alleged offences and ordered him to be remanded in prison custody pending the conclusion of investigation and obviously arraignment at the high court. At the moment, prosecuting counsel did not present any evidence in court today”.

Alfa Babatunde, ‘Sotitobire’ who could not control his emotion burst into tears as he was moved out of the court into the black maria alongside with six other members of the church arraigned with him.

The presiding magistrate Adeyanju, however adjourned the case till January 17, 2020, pending the conclusion of investigation and obviously arraignment at the high court.