Abuja: A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Adeniyi Akintola, has urged an FCT High Court in Gwagwalada, Abuja, to dismiss the charges against former Resident Pastor of First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja, Rev. Israel Akanji, citing lack of evidence.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Rev. Israel Akanji and five others face allegations of conspiracy, forgery, and misappropriation of church funds. The accusations include conspiring in 2021 to commit a felony, which violates Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution has accused the defendants of forging an amended version of the church's constitution between 2012 and 2021, falsely attributing it to the late Akin Aina, the then legal adviser and secretary of the Board of Trustees. Furthermore, they are accused of misappropriating N620 million belonging to the church. The prosecution claims these actions breach Sections 362, 364, 308, 309, 311, and 312 of the Penal Code.
At the recent court hearing, Chief Akintola filed a motion to quash the five-count charge against the defendants. Veronica Bisan, representing the prosecution, requested additional time to conclude investigations, citing previous adjournments.
Chief Akintola opposed this motion, arguing that the case had been postponed twice without substantive evidence against the defendants. He questioned the rationale behind bringing the defendants to court without completing investigations and criticized the lack of response from the prosecution to all applications before the court.
Akintola emphasized that no member of the approximately 5,000-strong church congregation had lodged a complaint, except for one individual determined to embarrass the church. He noted that the church had informed the police through various correspondences that no property or money was missing.
Justice J.A. Aina adjourned the case until June 2, when a ruling on the application to quash the charges is expected.