An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday, remanded two pastors: Olumide Peter and Jasulayomi Adetola, for allegedly brainwashing their congregation to disown their biological parents and burn their certificates.
The pastor’s were charged with criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, unlawful assembly, and putting persons in fear of injury in order to commit extortion.
The Court Magistrate, Ibrahim Dasuki, ordered that the defendants to be remanded in Oke-Kura Correctional Centre, Ilorin adjourning the case till Jan. 28.
Counsel to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Ajide Kehinde, stated that the defendants, who are pastors at Evidence of Christ Fellowship International Church, Agbo-Oba, Ilorin, kicked against Western education, claiming that it was a sin and that any certificate acquired through it was evil.
Kehinde said that the pastors had been extorting money from international organisations by sending recorded videos of the children, claiming that they were victims of natural disasters and internally-displaced persons.
He said that the offences were contrary to Sections 96, 100, 260 and 293 of the Penal Code Law.
He said that releasing the defendants on bail might jeopardise efforts to carry out proper investigation into the matter.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
