By Igwe Grace
An Ilorin High Court in Kwara State has sentenced a church founder, Prophet Ajiboye Olayinka, to life imprisonment. Olayinka, the General Overseer of his church, was found guilty of sexually assaulting three underage girls inside the church’s mission house in Ilorin.
In his judgment, the trial judge, Justice H.A. Gegele, ruled that the prosecution team successfully proved that the defendant committed the offenses of rape, unlawful sexual relations with minors, and performing illegal abortions. Aside from the life sentence, the court sentenced Prophet Olayinka to 14 years in prison for organizing illegal abortions that ended several pregnancies resulting from the abuse.
The Prophet faced an eight-count charge including criminal conspiracy, unlawful sexual relations with minors, illegal abortion, and unlawful possession of firearms, violating the Penal Code, the Robbery and Firearms Act, and the Kwara State Child Rights Law.
During the proceedings, the prosecution team led by Chief State Counsel Issa Zakari presented 12 witnesses.
According to testimonies from three of the victims, the pastor used anointing oil on them before forcing himself on them. He then forced them to hold the Holy Bible and swear an oath of secrecy, threatening to kill them if they spoke out.
In the final verdict, Justice Gegele explained that while the assault and abortion charges were fully proven, the court cleared the pastor of a bigamy charge due to a lack of evidence.
Condemning the pastor's actions, the judge labeled him a pedophile and a philanderer whose behavior has no place in society. Justice Gegele concluded by ordering that a pump-action gun recovered from the convict be permanently handed over to the Federal Government.
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