PROPHET Kayode Omirin of the Celestial Church of Christ, Ona Iye Parish, Ijebu-Ijesa Road, Ijeda-Ijesa, Osun State, has been remanded in prison again for allegedly raping a 20-year-old Yemisi Ogunmodede (not her real name).
Ogunmodede, who was said to be seeking spiritual solution at Omirins church, was allegedly raped on January 4, 2024, by the accused person.
Omirin had earlier been arraigned at an Ilesa Magistrates Court on March 26 for the same offence.
Presiding Magistrate A. Ayeni transferred the case to the Magistrate Court at Ijebu-Ijesa, and remanded Omirin at Ilesa Correctional Centre.
When the case came up at the Ijebu-Ijesa Magistrate court yesterday, the prosecutor, Inspector Kala, said the police wanted to substitute the charges against the accused person.
Kala said the case file was with the Investigation Police Officer (IPO) who was on his way to court, praying the magistrate to stand down the case.
However, a Chief State Counsel, Mr Muyiwa Ogunleye, informed the court that the Ministry of Justice desired to take over the prosecution of the case from the police, a move that was opposed by the police prosecutor.
The Magistrate, O. Oloyade, held that the Attorney General of the State is empowered by the constitution to take over the prosecution of a case at any time of the proceedings before judgment.
Oloyade granted the Ministry of Justice the permission to take over the prosecution of the charge and further ordered the police to handover the case file to the ministry for diligent prosecution.
Consequently, Ogunleye applied for the plea of the accused person to be taken, and Omirin pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Defence counsel, Mr Olabode Gbadebo, applied for the bail of the accused person, praying the court to be liberal on the bail terms.
But the prosecution counsel, Ogunleye, objected the bail application, stating that the accused person would jump bail as the charges against him carry capital punishment.
Ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Oloyade ordered the defence counsel to furnish the court with formal bail application.
The magistrate ordered Omirin to be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre, just as the case was adjourned till April 23, 2024 for hearing of the bail application.
Ismaeel Uthman is an Editor, Media Consultant with over 14 years experience in print journalism.
A consummate writer and reporter, Uthman has received accolades for his works, especially one that appeals for good governance and community development. He is a recipient of many laurels, including the Best Investigative Reporter (Print) Award of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, in 2020.
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