An Akure Magistrate Court sitting at Oke-Eda, will today hear the outcome of the investigation of the Department of State Service (DSS) into the case of the missing of 13 months old boy, Eninlaloluwa Kolawole Gold, from Sotitobire Church in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
At the last sitting on December 23, 2019, the court, presided over by Magistrate Charity Adeyanju, had adjourned the case till today to enable the DSS conduct further investigations into the matter.
The court on that day, also ordered the remand of the founder of Sotitobire, Alfa Babatunde Olumoyo, and six of his church workers in the Olokuta Correctional Service Centre over the missing of the baby, who reportedly disappeared from his church, sometimes in December last year.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 18 persons have also been remanded by the court for committing arson, malicious damage and stealing at Sotitobire Church .
On Wednesday, the court also remanded four other persons at Olokuta Correctional Service Centre over same offences.
They are Yusuf Owa, 27, Adebayo Adeyemi, 22, Adeleye, Omowumi, 28, and Adu Babatunde, 27.
It will be recalled that few weeks ago, 14 suspects were remanded in connection with the crime.
Magistrate Charity Adeyanju, ordered that the defendants be kept at Olokuta Correctional Service Centre, pending when the prosecutor would move the motion on notice for the remand of the defendants.
She had adjourned the case till today.
The court had on December 23 last year remanded the popular pastor in the prison over the missing child.
The pastor, who is the General Overseer of Sotitobire Church, Akure, was remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure, following his arraignment that day over his alleged involvement in the inexplicable disappearance of the one-year-old in his church on Sunday, November 10.
Babatunde was charged for conspiracy to kidnap and aiding kidnapping, offences which breach Section 5 of Ondo State Anti-kidnapping and anti-abduction law 2010.
He was arraigned with six other defendants including Omodara Olayinka, Margret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobi Motunrayo, Esther Kayode and Peter Anjorin.
Specifically, Anjorin, was accused of destroying and secretly taking away vital evidence that could have aided speedy investigation in respect of the missing boy, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of the Criminal Code and Cap 37 Laws of Ondo State.
They were arraigned by the State Security Services and would be in prison until January 17, the next adjourned date.
The pastor was arrested two weeks earlier by the SSS following a petition by the parents of the missing child who had lost hope in the police who earlier began an investigation on the matter.
Angry youth had on Wednesday December 18 last year invaded the church located at Osinle area of Akure and set it ablaze over a rumour that security operatives had exhumed the corpse of the baby from the altar of the church.
The police, however, debunked the rumour.
However, the incident resulted in some deaths. The mob also burnt vehicles in front of the church, while some property was looted by suspected thugs.
Challenging his prolonged detention, Babatunde through his lawyers had gone to the Federal High Court Akure Division, claiming he had been unlawfully detained by the SSS.
His family had also raised the alarm that his failing health had been aggravated by his detention.
The one-year-old boy, Gold Kolawole, was allegedly abducted in the church during a Sunday service in November.
The development had generated violent reactions from the residents of the town, as the church was set ablaze by some irate youths in protest against the alleged abduction.
The youths also alleged “lackadaisical attitude” on the part of the Police in their investigation of the matter.
During the violence, no fewer than three people died, including a policeman whose identity has not been revealed.
Many houses, vehicles and other property that belonged to the church were also set ablaze by the irate youths.
After the arguments from the prosecuting counsel Mr. Joshua Dada, and the defence counsel, Mr. Olusola Oke, on the bail application of the defendants, the Magistrate, Mrs. Charity Adeyanju, had ordered the defendants to be remanded in Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure.
She had also adjourned the case until January 17, 2020 to enable the Department of State Services conclude their investigation into the matter.
The court also had ruled that the defendants should be allowed to have access to medical treatment.
Specifically, Sotitobiire Churchwas set ablaze last month by angry youths who were protesting the disappearance of the one-year-old boy during a church service in November.
He was allegedly abducted at the children’s section of the church and his whereabouts have since been unknown.
Babatunde was subsequently arrested for questioning, as confirmed by the state Police Commissioner, Mr Undie Adie.
Residents of the area had reportedly got angry when some pastors of the church started morning service on the fateful day.
This later degenerated when it was rumored that the corpse of the missing child had been found inside the church premises, and that his body had been exhumed from the church premises.
His mother, Modupe, had raised an alarm after he went missing during a church service in November.
But the Commissioner of Police dismissed the rumor, declaring that nobody was exhumed from the church premises.
He however confirmed that the founder of the church, Alfa Babatunde has been taken into the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) for questioning.
He had also confirmed that a number of casualties were recorded during the attack on the church, but insists his men were only on ground to maintain law and order.
The police had followed this up with a statement saying: “The Ondo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public particularly the People of Ondo State that they should disregard the rumours making the rounds that the body of a recently declared missing boy in the state has been exhumed from Sotitobire church in Akure.
“It is most unfortunate that this misleading information spearheaded by a popular TV station, has ignited a spontaneous reactions from the people leading to wanton destruction of properties and injuries to many.
“The church building was also set ablaze by irate youths. Some of our officers dispatched to the scene to contain the situation were pelted with stones with many of them sustaining injuries.
“Their patrol vehicle was also badly damaged. This rejoinder became necessary to disabuse the minds of many Nigerians who might have fallen for this wicked lies and propaganda.
“The public should also not be hoodwinked by reports that the command has abandoned the investigation of the incident, as the case file is already on the way to the DPP for legal advice.”
Since the disappearance of the one-year-old boy, his parents and the General-Overseer had been trading blames over his disappearance.
The mother of the child and member of the church, Mrs Modupe Kolawole said she suspects foul play in the disappearance of her son.
