There was a mild drama at the Ondo state high court as a video evidence was played on the laptop of the founder of Sotitobire Miracle Centre, Alfa Babatunde.
The prophet and six other members of his church are standing trial over the disappearance of a year old boy, Gold Kolawole in his church last year.
Two videotapes were played by the Department of the State Security Services (DSS) as evidence tendered in the court.
The interrogation in the video was conducted on Monday by the men of the DSS, headed by one Adekunle Akanbi and the Counsel to the Prophet, Barr Omoware.
In one of the tapes played, the prophet had initially said in an interview that, it was because the parents of the missing boy did not come begging, stating that the boy could have been found if the parent had begged him.
He said in the video that parents of the missing boy did not follow the church’s normal channel in reporting the case of the missing boy.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola having diligently watched the video, ordered that the exhibit be taken in as viable and useful evidence against the prophet.
Also one of the suspects, who is also a teacher in the church said she has been a member of the church for over three years. She confessed that indeed the little boy was brought into the church on that fateful day.
She said further that, on that day, fourteen of them were present to oversee the affairs of the children. She said the little boy, Gold, was brought in to the church, and the boy was registered on the church register as Kolawole Gold on number 87.
She said, “Mrs Omodara, Mrs Oyebola, Mrs. Olaleke and two other women were there when the child was brought”
The CD was played by adekunle akanbi, a technical officer with the DSS who was also the 8 witness for the Prosecution.
The court also admitted as evidence the video recording of the statement by prophet Babatunde during interrogation by the DSS.
Prophet Babatunde and 6 other church members are standing trial on three count charge including conspiracy and abetting kidnap before Justice Olusegun odusola on ondo State high court sitting in Akure.
The state Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, Adekola Olawoye led appearance for the state while olusola oke, olumide Ogidan, akinyemi omoware and olalekan Akinrinsola stood in for the defendants.
Seven witnesses that include the parents of gold, his grandmother, aunt, and three DSS personnel had earlier given evidences for the Prosecution in the case than began in January 2020.
