Etim Ekpimah
An Ondo State High Court has sentenced the Founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Pastor Samuel Babatunde, also known as Alfa Babatunde, to life imprisonment over the “disappearance” of a one-year-old boy, Gold Kolawole, in his church.
The boy was kidnapped by unknown person during the church service at the children section of the church at Oshinle Quarters, Akure in November 2019. His whereabouts have remained a mystery up to date.
The boy’s disappearance led to the arrest of the pastor with seven other members of the church, and was arraigned before a magistrates’ court on six counts. The matter was later transferred to the state High Court.
Justice Olusegun Odusola, who delivered the judgement on Tuesday, convicted the defendants, having found them guilty of two counts of kidnapping, and aiding and abetting to kidnap “based on the circumstantial evidence” presented by the prosecution.