MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 40-year old man, Joseph Alu, has been arrested in Lagos State for allegedly ridiculing a cleric, Pastor Sunday Eguaoyo, by calling him fake and allegedly revealing his dirty secrets to the Church members and on social media.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Bungalow Estate, Jakende area of Ejigbo, Lagos, where the Church is located.
The suspect, Alu, was said to have told Pastor Eguaoyo that he knew him very well and that he was a fake while deceiving his followers claiming to be a real Pastor.
The revelation was said to have thrown both Pastor Eguaoyo’s family and Church members into confusion as it portrayed him as a fake Pastor.
Pastor Eguaoyo was said not to be able to bear the trauma and embarrassment, which the allegations made against him had caused his family and the Church, and he went to the Ejigbo Police Station and reported Alu.
Alu was subsequently arrested and detained at the station for interrogation in order to provide evidence over his claims against Pastor Eguaoyo but he was unable to do so and made his claims orally.
The Police found him culpable and later charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and threat to life of Pastor Eguaoyo by broadcasting on the social media an information which caused disaffection against the Pastor Eguaoyo, family and members of his Church.
He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. K.A. Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
However, he was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 24th August, 2022, for mention.