Saturday, 25 May 2013
N2 Billion Bishop Assault Lawsuit: Oyedepo’s Victory A ‘Miscarriage of Justice,’ Says Victim's Attorney Robert Igbinedion
Bishop David Oyedepo and the victim
By SaharaReporters, New York
Robert Igbinedion, the lawyer who instituted a N2billion lawsuit against Bishop Oyedepo for his infamous slap on a teenage girl during an altar call in his Winners Chapel tabernacle, has dismissed last Thursday’s judgment in favor of the Bishop as a miscarriage of justice.
In a press release, Igbinedion said the judgment was decided mainly on technicalities and not on the copious and damaging facts, which he presented to the Court in support of the case.
Igbinedion, who was a lone lawyer battling with several senior colleagues hired by the affluent and influential Bishop, cited a Supreme Court precedent in the case of THE STATE Vs GWONTO & ORS. (1983) 1 SCNLR (NOTABLE PRONOUNCEMENT) to back his argument.
“This Court has for some time now laid down as a guiding principle that it is more interested is substance than in mere form,” Igbinedion quoted from the top court’s statement. “Justice can only be done if the substance of the matter is examined. Reliance on technicalities leads to injustice.”
He also highlighted the reactions of the public to the judgment and quoted a legal dictum as the basis for the consideration of further legal options in response to the boastful attitude of the Winners Chapel Bishop after he had humiliated the teenage girl at his church altar.
Commenting on the reaction of the public, he said, “If the ordinary man who monitored the proceeding says justice was done then justice was done but if he says justice was not done then justice was not done”.
Some of the options Igbinedion says he will be exercising soon include:
• An appeal up to the Supreme Court
• Setting a machinery in motion for the crime to be investigated and prosecuted by the Police or a Private prosecution
• Instituting an action in the United States; and
• Petitioning the Corporate Affairs Commission to investigate if exorcism is compatible with the objective of the Board of Trustees and if not, calling for its winding up by the Commission among or other sanctions against the Board of Winners Chapel.
He recalled similar strong cases in the past where he triumphed after long legal battles, including that of the jailed Reverend King.
“We have been tackling class bullies since our kindergarten days all through to University; we have engaged many oppressors of the people through lawful means, the one at hand is not insurmountable compared to our strong resolve,” he said.
It has been observed that Bishop Oyedepo has tamed his tongue on the altar regarding his legal predicament. Once, he boasted about the slap video, which had spread wildly on the Internet, as follows: “If I slapped the witch and she did not talk, what is their own business? Are they going to court now or what?”
Recently however, he has left the slapping issue completely out of his sermons, preferring to hire expensive lawyers to fight for him. An analyst said that for the bishop to be silent on the altar about the issue was the best option, as the boastful option could have attracted a bad public image and a grievous legal retribution.
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Bring him to the hague
Submitted by ashimo (not verified) on February 3, 2013 - 22:48.
A crime is a crime whether commited in the church or in a mosque or in a market place,of cos he has no case to answer that is nija 4 u, if u have have money u are above the law. in my humble opinion the Judge should be sent back to law school and oyedepo should be sent to the hague(int. criminal court)and lets see how good his lawyers really are.
Hungry lawyer
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 15, 2012 - 11:57.
1.The bible says touch not my anointed,even if baba was wrong to have slapped the girl,we should av allowed God punish him but i bet u lawyer he will rather be fighting for him than punishing him.Lawyer,fight bokoharam,politicians and other life sapping issues than this.
your evil deeds shall caught on you -evil pastor
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 23, 2012 - 18:53.
oyedipo you think u are a man of god,nooooooooooo u are not ,just just and evil being pretending u are god workman,for in your heart ,u know what am saying,u have step beyond your limit and there lord anger will tell on you soon ,just wait and see what there world we see what will happen to u,thy cup is full ,but now is will start to pour over and u will have nothing left for your evil deed shall come to life-a foul as said in is heart there is no god-u think u can be dealt with,thy lord wipe shall touch u soon,look am a spirit being in this world -be ready to see thing that will fall u-never call thy name of thy lord god in vain
-for u know in your heart u dont worship god,thy lord say ,can anyone hide from me---noooooooooo u know-a little time will caught on u-till then-----be proud and boasting of your evil deed-wait and see
RE-OYEDEPO WILL ROT IN HELL
Submitted by afo (not verified) on September 27, 2012 - 10:20.
HOW R YOU DEVILS'SECRETARY TO KNOW WHOSE NAME ARE ON THE LIST OF HELL CANDIDATE?YOU ALSO SAY MORONS ARE THE ONE SUPPORTING OYEDEPO,WELL IT TAKES DE CHIEF-MORON(YOU) TO KNOW TO KNOW THE REST.
what was the lawyer
Submitted by AFOLABI (not verified) on September 27, 2012 - 10:13.
what was the lawyer expecting,a victory so that he can give the sick lady small thousand and keep the rest.I watch the programme live.it was more less like an elder rebuke a small girl to keep shut!she came out for alter-call and she said "I AM A WITCH FOR CHRIST" like twice.if the small slap kept the familiar spirit in her quiet,is it for half-baked lawyer who need cheap popularity to take the case to court?was the lady that approach him cause i tell,the lawyer was more emotionally unbalanced and she was not ok(if u see a disturbed person-u will understan).
lawyer u better touch not the anointed and since u have touched, pray for forgiveness because i have never see anyone that does that and go scot-free( not even pastor against pastor can get-away).
devils
Submitted by sandy (not verified) on July 22, 2012 - 13:46.
stupid lawyer plus teenage thief.ma bishop weldone,d lord is always on ur side ma luv
The Liar and opportunist
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 22, 2012 - 07:53.
Who is lying now? At the initial stage, this Hal-baked lawyer and half-baked reporters told us 'The girl’s identity is kept secret on the request of her lawyers to protect her from the pastor’s fanatical followers' Protection indeed!
Re: Shame on our Judiciary system
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 22, 2012 - 07:28.
Illiteracy,miseducation and stupidity has for long been the bane of the Nigerian society. That is why we now have several half-baked lawyers and journalists/reporters parading the streets. The Judge clearly said in his judgement that the Bishop has no case to answer. Yet some fools are still thinking otherwise and citing far away countries abroad. How do you know what obtains abroad when you cnannot even understand common and ordinary pronouncements at home? For the education of your foolish minds -exactly what happened in Nigeria in this case would have happened anywhere in the world and no civilised judge in any civilised country in the West would have arrived at any decision different from Justice Ojo's decision. And for those upbraiding the Nigerian police, note again that no police force in civilised countries goes about arresting people on the basis of some videos or pictures displayed in the public. Pls stop disgracing yourselves as Nigerians.
small ungry lowyer
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 21, 2012 - 20:20.
NAWA OO! 4 U OO!-DIS SMALL AND UNGRY LAWYER-DONT U KNOW THT -JESUS CHRIST IS LORD*WHO GOD AS LEFTED UP NO MAN BORN OF A WOMAN CAN BULL U DOWN-MY PAPA DAVID BISHOP OYEDEPO GOD HAS LEFT U UP NO DEVILISH LAWYER CANT BULL YOU DOWN-REMEMBER WHT GOD TOLD PHERO-LET MY BISHOP GO SENT THE LORD OF HOSTS.PSALM 35-1TO7 AND ALSO TOCH NOT MY ANOINTHING AND DU MY PROPHET NO ARM.PSALM 35VS27.
I hate cheap popularity
Submitted by Am a winner (not verified) on July 19, 2012 - 19:22.
He is a hungry lawyer. I hate cheap popularity.
Name of victim please
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 19, 2012 - 03:20.
Barrister, whats the name of your client?
Oga Lawyer
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 18, 2012 - 19:21.
I am so disappointed to see people with shallow mentality to be so biased about a Bishop slapping a little girl. In Nigeria can any one come out truthfully to say that he or she was never slapped by an elder in the environment. I commend a freedom Fighter Lawyer, but I beg you Sir, channel your energy to other productive issue. In Nigeria. Boko Haram genocide. I am not here to disregard your zeal for justice but to encourage you for better issues as far as I am concern Oga Lawyer u no dey try..... MTN or GLO dey chop our money no body dey talk...... Fake Drugs dey market no body dey talk.......
oyedepo case.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 18, 2012 - 14:56.
if truely the girl. is a witch. the bishop is right out of holy anger. pls children of God watch ur comment. over men of God, its dangerous. mr lawyer take it. easy, l luv u all
Hungry Lawyer, What did you do
Submitted by Dogo (not verified) on July 18, 2012 - 12:53.
What did this hungry lawyer do when Cecilia Ibru looted Oceanic Bank until it died with the money of millions Nigerians, what did he do when Tafa Balogun looted the Police dry, what is he doing about the Dimeji Bankole case that is now forgotten yet the boy is walking the streets of Nigeria as a free man with pockets filled with Nigerians people money?
Hungry Lawyer, What did you do
Submitted by Dogo (not verified) on July 18, 2012 - 12:52.
What did this hungry lawyer do when Cecilia Ibru looted Oceanic Bank until it died with the money of millions Nigerians, what did he do when Tafa Balogun looted the Police dry, what is he doing about the Dimeji Bankole case that is now forgotten yet the boy is walking the streets of Nigeria as a free man with pockets filled with Nigerians people money?
There are too many busy
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 18, 2012 - 08:28.
There are too many busy bodies in Nigeria today that don't know where to channel their energy. People are being slaughtered daily with nobody crying human right abuse. A bishop slapped a minor and a hungry lawyer rushed to court demanding #2b. Can such people ever correct their children when wrong? Are we saying this child's parent can't correct her by beating? Let us be wise Mr lawyer.
Correction
Submitted by Anonymous1 (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 23:29.
Many Nigerians at home are dunce. You see a man single handedly fighting for justice as regard a less opportuned young citizen ...
Get out of the dark and emulate people in the civilized world. Let no man deceive you to achieve his selfish gains.
OYEDEPO WILL ROT IN HELL!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 21:30.
I read some morons support Oyedepo for assaulting that little girl and clapping to cheer him.They have ignored the girl.
These same people are raining abuses on Barrister Igbinedion, the only brave man in Nigeria to confront this octopus called Oyedepo.
Instead of Nigerians to stand up in the defence of the poor girl, they support the rich man just as the thief Barnabas was supported against Jesus Christ.
Nigerians choose to worship a man because he is rich and forget God.
No wonder the country is backward!
Well done Robert - Set a precedence!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 21:00.
God says He is bigger and able, no-one needs to fight for God. I thought Chritians were supposed to worship, love and spread the Gospel of Christ first? Some are so narrow minded they do not realise that in some cases such people like the girl may even be mentally challenged or unfit? I will encourage Robert to pursue this matter to the greatest extent, if only to set the precedence whereby people's rights are fully protected as enshrined in our constitution. Can any of those people try such things in Europe or America, or are there no witches or demons there? Go Robert!
Well Done Robert - Set a precedence!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 20:59.
My kudos to Robert for setting a precedence in the right direction. As a Christian I cannot recall the Lord Jesus using violence and physical assault to exorcise demons or evil spirits. He merely spoke the word and they fled. Our over-religious congregations have become gullible and silent collaborators and servants to all manners of evil and injustice by some of these people who call themselves "Men and Women of God, Warriors of/for God".
What an ignorant comment.
Submitted by Oyedepo is not Jesus! (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 20:52.
What an ignorant comment. Just because he is a Paster of a mega church doesnt meant hat he is above the law. I think Nigerians respect their religious elders than God himself. I dont recall Jesus Christ living a luxurious lifestyle at the expense of his followers. Anyway, dont blame him, blame the ignorant Nigerians that think worship him. We are all equal before God, and no man can interceed on your behalf. Mumu Nigerians.
Oga Lawyer na money u want or
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 20:06.
Oga Lawyer na money u want or justice. Oga lawyer pls if na money u for at least humble beg Bishop for am, but if na justice then u would have asked for apology because right now I am very confused about your intentions.
Oga Lawyer na money u want or
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 20:05.
Oga Lawyer na money u want or justice. Oga lawyer pls if na money u for at least humble beg Bishop for am, but if na justice then u would have asked for apology because right now I am very confused about your intentions.
Lawsuit
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 20:02.
Oga Lawyer na money u want or justice. Oga lawyer pls if na money u for at least humble beg Bishop for am, but if na justice then u would have asked for apology because right now I am very confused about your intentions.
Well put comment. One would
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 19:02.
Well put comment. One would expect a counsel to be well prepared for a big case involving a public figure like Oyedepo. Couldn't believe that the clip of the footage was not served on the defence or the court. I hope this would be a learning curve for the barrister. This is a classic case for victimless prosecution if the footage had been made available. In all, it's a big shame on the man of God to have acted in such manner; I wonder what his behaviour would be like off camera (probably Mike Tyson).
You people are too religious
Submitted by Paul (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 18:33.
You people are too religious that u are blind and dumb to see what is wrong and say it is wrong. Who cares if he is a bishop? If this is a man of God behaves then I must make heaven! Gosh! Na wa for una o!
Hungry Lawyer
Submitted by IMAM (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 18:09.
The victim is not talking, has never talked and probably is not interested in the case. The hungry lawyer wants to make a name as a social activist because he knows he will collect most of the money. Nigerians should think and reason beyond this so called act of magnanimity by this lawyer. Imagine what would happen if the girl had called herself WITCH FOR MOHAMMED or WIZARD FOR ALLAH. She would not just be slapped, she would be beheaded on the spot.
BAD REPORTING
Submitted by EDITOR'S SENSE (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 18:04.
You have a solid story, going after a powerful man who seem to have harassed a powerless girl.
But you can't report the reaction of a story, without first reporting that story itself. That is bad journalism clearly.
Pls report the ruling first, then report the reaction.
Saharareporters has passed the stage of mediocrity, so stick by the meaningful Journalism 101.
Keep up the good job.
Young idiot men of God ar nt 2 be trusted.So shut up
Submitted by Sunday itodo (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 17:25.
The bishop shud be purnished becos the bible did nt ask anyone 2 humiliate anoder.Y wil he slap d girl abi na d new way of delivarance.So you youngful or wot u cal ur self just shut up
Many Nigerians at home at
Submitted by Anonymous1 (not verified) on July 17, 2012 - 17:15.
Many Nigerians at home at dunce. You see a man single handedly fighting for justice as regard a less opportuned young citizen ...
Get out of the dark and emulate people in the civilized world. Let no man deceive you to achieve his selfish gains.
