MICHAEL AKINOLA
A cleric, Prophet David Oshoffa of the Celestial Church of Christ, Alpha and Omega, Ashipa Parish, has landed in trouble for allegedly poisoning two siblings, Michael and Mahoklo, in his church under the guise of delivering them from evil spirits.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the church in Seme Border, Badagry area of the State, where the victims were taken to and Oshoffa forced them to drink chemical substances.
Following the ugly incident, Prophet Oshoffa was arrested in the area and transferred to the SCID, Yaba, for further investigation over the alleged death of the victims.
After serious interrogation, the Police found him culpable for willful murder and subsequently charged him before the Yaba Magistrate Court on three counts bordering on conspiracy and murder.
The prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, told the Court that the siblings were taken to the cleric’s parish for spiritual deliverance from alleged evil spirits.
Prophet Oshoffa, alongside two fleeing accomplices, allegedly prepared a concoction using deadly chemicals, which he knew were harmful to the children but gave them to drink in the name of dispossessing them of evil spirits.
Supol Nurudeen said Oshoffa committed the offence on 18th June, 2023, at his church’s premises, adding that the offence contravened Section 222 and was punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The charge read in part, “That you, David Oshoffa, and two others at large, on June 18, 2023, at Celestial Church of Christ, Alpha and Omega, Ashipa Parish 4, Seme Border, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Michael Agba, 12, Mahoklo Agba, 8, by poisoning them with a concoction containing black soap and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 222 and punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
The Court did not take his plea following a motion moved by the prosecutor asking the Court to remand the defendant pending the outcome of the legal advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
The Presiding Magistrates, Mr. P.E. Nwaka ordered the remand of the defendant at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to DPP for advice.
The matter was adjourned till 4th August, 2023, for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be ready, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.