Justice Abiola Soladoye of a Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, Ikeja, Lagos, has discharged a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Emmanuel Orekoya, accused of def!ling his 17-year-old daughter.
The judge dismissed the case against Orekoya for want of diligent prosecution, holding that the prosecution failed to present witnesses in court to prove the charge against him.
The court therefore discharged the defendant of the two-count charge of bordering on def!lement and s3xual assault by penetration, brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
Justice Soladoye held that the prosecution is a colossal waste of time, as there was no single witness in court to testify against the pastor, despite 10 adjournments.
“This case is struck out for want of diligent prosecution. After the arraignment of the defendant on February 26 2024, to date, making a total of 10 adjournments, no witness has ever come up before this court to testify.
“It is right that justice delayed is justice denied. The prosecution is at liberty to re-arrest the defendant and bring him to justice whenever they have assembled their witnesses to prosecute this case,” he said.
The state government had alleged Orekoya s3xually abused his daughter in 2017 on Jacob Adeleye Street, Odoeran in Itire, Surulere in Lagos, by inserting his p3nis into her mouth contrary to Sections 137 and 162 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015).
The pastor, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences.