By Ayodele Oni
Within a year of establishing the Church, it became a Mecca of sort as people from all walks of life, from far and near, came to receive miracles from the Cleric.
The Church, Sotitobire Praise Chapel, was located at Oluwatuyi area, Akure, the Ondo state capital with Prophet Alfa Babatunde as the founder. He became a god to so many of his adherents as they believed that whatever he said must come to pass.
However, the unusual happened during one of the Sunday services in 2019 when a boy, Gold Kolawole, aged 13 months was declared missing in the Church. The parents gave account of how the missing boy was dropped at the children’s section of the Church and on the return of the mother to look after him, he was nowhere to be found.
There were protests about the missing child which led to the burning down of the Church building and many vehicles parked within the premises.
Thus commenced a legal battle to ensure that the law caught up with those responsible for the missing boy. It was the State versus Prophet Alfa and some members of his Church.
At the end of it all, the Prophet and others were found guilty by an Akure High Court presided over by Justice Olusegun Odusola. He thereby clamped a life sentence on him on October 6, 2020.
Justice Odusola explained in his judgement that his decision was based on what he described as Prophet Alfa’s complicity in the mysterious disappearance of the 13-month-old boy, Gold Kolawole from his Church.
He was sentenced on a two-count charge of conspiracy, as well as aiding and abetting kidnapping along with five other persons who are members of his Church.
Convicted along with Alfa were teachers in the children department which included, Omodara Olayinka, Margaret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobi Motunrayo and Esther Kayode.
The Prophet thus began his sojourn at the Olokuta Maximum Correctional Centre in Akure while his lawyers, after consultations with him, immediately filed an appeal against the decision of the High Court.
In his brief to the appellate Judges, Counsel to Prophet Babatunde Alfa, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, gave highpoints of his appeal as conspiracy, aiding and abetting kidnapping, which were grounds his client was convicted.
According to him, at Sotitobire Church in a broad day light, a child was declared missing, the police was investigating and suddenly the DSS took over the investigation from the police. It was based on the investigation of the DSS that the appellant was tried and convicted.
Awomolo argued that his grouse was that DSS did not have the power to take over the investigation from Police.
The Counsel to Prophet Sotitobire said the trial Court convicted the appellant not because of any eyewitness or any confession, but he was convicted because of circumstantial evidence.
He argued that for the totality of the findings of the trial Court, the allegations could not be linked to Prophet Sotitobire on the basis of circumstantial evidence.
He, however, urged the Court to set side the judgment of the trial court which convicted the Appellant and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Presenting his own brief, the Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye, argued in respect of the claims of Counsel to the appellant that the DSS had no right to investigate and tender evidence in respect of the case.
Tititloye pointed out that the DSS did the investigation because there was a threat to law and order when the issue of missing child broke out.
He hinged his argument on the fact that after the alleged kidnapping, there was serious tension the town, as the Church was burnt, many people were killed and property destroyed.
He said it was based on the crisis that erupted that made the DSS to take over the case, urging the appellate Court to uphold the judgment of the High Court.
The turning point in the life of the Prophet was again on Friday, December 3rd when the Court of Appeal delivered judgement in the matter. This is after being incacerated for almost two years.
The appellate Court, presided over by Justice, Rita Nosakhare Pemu set aside the judgement of the lower Court and gave back the Prophet his freedom.
Thus on Tuesday, 7th December, after his Counsel perfected necessary papers, Prophet Alfa regained his total freedom and left the Correctional Centre for his home.
The Prophet was welcomed by a crowd, apparently remaining members of his Church that were full of praises for his release.
The Prophet spoke evil for the first time as he rained curses on those behind his travails, saying he was picked from the altar and sent to prison but added that God should expose the evil people who abducted the boy and those behind his travails.
“Either man or woman, who sent me to jail without investigating, my God that took me away from prison will expose those who perpetrated the evil.
“I was taken from the pulpit to the prison over what I don’t know anything about. But I was hopeful that one day, the truth will come out. God will expose the evil doers.”
