An Ikeja high court has rejected the post-conviction bail
application filed by Israel Ogundipe, shepherd-in-charge of Celestial Church of
Christ, Global Genesis Parish, Lagos, who was sentenced to two years
imprisonment for fraud.
Recall that a Lagos state high court had convicted Ogundipe for defrauding Olaide Williams-Oni, a UK-based woman, of N17 million.
Before the conviction, the pastor had been on trial since
2011, for seven counts of obtaining by stealing, inducing delivery of money by
false pretence, unlawful conversion of property and forgery.
According to NAN, Ogundipe, who cited health grounds, asked
the court to grant him unconditional bail pending the hearing and determination
of the appeal of his sentence.
Defending the bail application, Olanrewaju Ajanaku, his
counsel, in a 16-paragraph affidavit, said Ogundipe is suffering from diabetes,
which requires strict diet and specialised medical attention which cannot be
provided in the correctional centre.
Ajanaku also noted that his client was suffering from
hypertension, peptic ulcer and unending malaria, before his conviction, which
has become worse, making him look pale.
Arguing against the bail application, Rotimi Odutola, the
prosecuting counsel, in a counter-affidavit, said during the several years of
the trial, the Lagos-based pastor never complained about his health.
Odutola argued that if Ogundipe’s health status requires
special medical attention, the correctional centre will carry out a referral
without informing anyone.
“It is now he is alluding to facts about his alleged state
of health now that he has being in custody for barely three weeks.” Odutola
said.
“Indeed, if his health status truly requires treatment, the
correctional centres also have a procedure for referral where an inmate’s
health case so demands without the prompting of anyone.”
Olabisi Akinlade, judge of the Ikeja high court, dismissed
the bail application and ordered the Lagos-based pastor to continue serving his
sentence at the Kirikiri correctional centre.
Akinlade, in the ruling, said Ogundipe had not proved his
case to persuade the court to grant him bail.
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I laugh at Nigerian judges & laws.. if it's one of the political pen robber cough or sneeze inside the court he will be granted a bail and release to visit American or Canada to take treatment and rest for the remain of his life.. Nigeria laws are always tested and used on poor citizens..
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