The founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Prophet Babatunde Alfa on Tuesday mounted the witness box at the Ondo State High Court, Akure, in the ongoing trial over the alleged missing boy Gold Kolawole in his church.
For Eight hours, Alfa had the opportunity to defend himself against the allegations levelled against him and six others since the trial began in December 2019.
The clergy man started with a claim that the DSS after arresting him, searched his house and church but found nothing incriminating.
Read more: Sotitobire: Prophet Alfa To Open Defence On June 25 As Prosecutor Closes Case
He went further that despite organising marathon prayers and fasting alongside his ministers, the boy’s parent did not cooperate with him to find the missing boy through the right channel.
Prophet Alfa explained that the right channel he claimed in the exhibit before the court was using prayers and security agencies to find the missing boy.
The defence lawyer, Olusola Oke also tendered a video footage of the church service where prayers were said for the recovery of the boy which was accepted by the court.
While being Cross examined by the attorney General and Commissioner for justice Adekola Olawoye, the prophet said he never knew the boy’s parents until the incident happened though they claimed they had been attending since June.
He also agreed that one month after the incident, the police never arraigned him or any of his church members in court until the DSS did so.
However the 5th defence witness, Evangelist Funmilayo Ogunlusi, a cleric in the church corroborated the story of the Prophet that, they had a vigil the day the incident occurred and a 9 day fasting and prayer by the ministers for the recovery of the child.
Earlier on June 30, 2020, the traditional personal assistant to the Deji of Akure, chief Taiwo Fagite was the 4th witness for prophet Babatunde Alfa in his ongoing trial at an Ondo state high court in Akure over the disappearance of gold Kolawole In November last year.
Justice Odusola adjourned the trial, to be continued today (Wednesday).
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