Babatunde moving out of Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure
After two years behind the bars, the founder of the Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Prophet Alfa Babatunde, on Tuesday walked out a free man yesterday into the warm embrace of his wife Bisola and members of his congregation.
It was an emotional reunion for the founder and his members who launched into wild celebration.
Babatunde, spotting a white tracksuit, threw barbs and rained curses at his perceived enemies and said despite their alleged evil machinations, God brought him out victorious.
“The God that took me away from prison will expose those who perpetrated this to me,” he was quoted as saying.
Babatunde was in 2020 sentenced to life imprisonment by Ondo State High Court over the disappearance of a year old boy, Gold Kolawole from his church premises without any trace.
However, the judgement was upturned by the State Court of Appeal last Friday on the ground that the circumstantial evidence the high court based its judgement upon to convict him was not weighty enough.
Efforts to speak with the freed cleric proved abortive but unconfirmed report has it that he had gone to see his personal doctor for medical attention.
Some of his church members expressed heartfelt joy at his release.
According to them, his release, after two years of being kept in the correctional centre, showed he was innocent of the allegation.
“This is a sign that papa has no hand in the disappearance of the boy. This is a proof of his innocence and we are happy to welcome him back”, one of his followers said joyfully.
The Appeal Court had freed Babatunde on Wednesday December 3 two years after he was taken into custody, amid jubilation by members of Sotitobire Praising Chapel.
He and five other members of the church were arrested in 2019 over the mysterious disappearance of a 13-month-old boy, Gold Kolawole, from his church.
They were arraigned on two count charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting kidnapping.
Last year, the cleric and the five church workers were sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one, which bordered on conspiracy to commit felony to with aiding and abetting kidnapping and life imprisonment on count two bordering on aiding and abetting kidnapping contrary to and punishable under the Section 5 of the Ondo State Anti-kidnapping and Anti-Abduction law 2010.
One of the accused persons, Peter Anjorin, was discharged and acquitted for lack of substantial evidence from the prosecution.
Anjorin was accused of destroying evidence contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of the criminal code law of Ondo State 2006.
But the appellate Judge, Justice Justice Hammah Barka, held that the circumstantial evidence the lower court based its judgement on was not enough to convict Prophet Sotitobire.
The appellate court also discharged and acquitted one of the church workers, Motunrayo Ogunjobi.
It said there wad no iota of evidence against her.
Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Titiloye Charles, had said the State Government would study the judgement before taking action.
He said: “The Court of Appeal has decided this matter. The court has affirmed that the DSS can as a matter of fact investigate any case.
“However, the Court of Appeal has stated that circumstantial evidence upon which was based upon by the lower court is not enough to sustain a conviction of the defendant and has discharged the defendant.
“Our attitude from the state is that we will study the judgment and take a proper step we are supposed to take.”
Counsel to the appellant, Gboyega Awomolo (SAN), who was represented by Akinyemi Omoware, said truth has prevailed over falsehood.
“The Prophet was convicted on conspiracy, aiding and abetting kidnapping. The Court of Appeal has overturned that judgment.
“It was held that the appellant was not found culpable of the alleged offence. He is not guilty as pronounced upon by the trial court.
“One of the defendants who is Motunrayo Ogunjobi has equally been discharged. The court said there is no iota of evidence against her just like the Prophet, that they don’t know about the commission of the offence.
“The basis was that the prosecution has failed in its entirety to prove the element of the alleged offence. The implication of that is that they were convicted wrongly by the lower court. They have been justified by the Court of Appeal.”
Baby Gold went missing on November 10, 2019, after he was dropped at the church’s children’s department by his mother, Mrs. Modupe Kolawole.
Babatunde’s church was razed down after his arrest when rumours filtered in that the corpse of the missing baby was exhumed from the church altar.
Baby Gold has never been found since 2019.
