By Adenike Ayodele
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Wednesday discharged Emmanuel Orekoya, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, of the allegation of defiling his 17-year-old daughter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Government had on Feb. 26, 2024, arraigned Orekoya on a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Justice Abiola Soladoye struck out the case and discharged Orekoya of the charge for lack of diligent prosecution.
Soladoye said that that the prosecution failed to present witnesses in court to prove the allegations against Orekoya.
According to her, the case of the prosecution is a colossal waste of time as there is no single witness in court to testify against the pastor after 10 adjournments.
The judge said: “This case is struck out for want of diligence prosecution.
“After the arraignment of the defendant on Feb.26 2024, till date, making a total of 10 adjournments, no witness ever came up before this court to testify.
“It is right that justice delayed is justice denied.
“Prosecution is at liberty to re-arrest the defendant and bring him to justice whenever they have assembled their witnesses to prosecute this case.”
NAN reports that the prosecution, at arraignment, alleged that Orekoya defiled his daughter sometime in 2017 at Jacob Adeleye Street, Odoeran, in the Itire area of Surulere, Lagos.
The prosecution further alleged that Orekoya inserted his manhood into the victim, an offence which contravened Sections 137 and 162 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Orekoya had pleaded not guilty to the charges. (NAN)
