Olushola Omogbehin
A pastor known as Bashorun Olawale Akanni, has been arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja for the alleged sexual harassment of a 14-year-old girl.
Re-arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on the indecent treatment of a child, the defendant, who is also a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, indecently assaulted the minor at the Iwaya area of Lagos by fondling her breasts.
Funmilola Aluko who is the prosecution counsel, told the court that the defendant had unlawfully fondled the breasts of the minor which contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
After the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, defence counsel, Morenikeji Oyekunle, prayed the court to allow her client to continue on the bail earlier granted by a Magistrate’s Court, arguing that he had abided with all conditions and was not a flight risk, being a lawyer and clergyman.
Though the bail request was opposed by Aluko but Justice Oshodi upheld the bail conditions previously granted by the Magistrate’s Court and tasked the defence counsel to make sure the defendant is brought at every adjourned date.
Meanwhile, the prosecution informed the court after the ruling that the complainant, now 27 years old, was present and ready to testify.
According to her, the defendant started molesting her in 2010, when she was about eight years old and moved in with the defendant’s family to improve her academic performance and to take part in the church choir.
She said she ran away from the defendant’s house and reported the case to her parents and officially, complain was lodged in 2023 after learning of a similar incident involving another minor in the same church.
Justice Oshodi invoked Section 193 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law by awarding a cost of N50,000 in favour of the witness which must be paid by the defence before the next trial date.
The case was adjourned to December 9, 2025.
