A 70-year-old pastor, Ibigbemi Ajayi and his 17-year-old son, Joel, have been arrested and arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrate’s Court for attempted murder and culpable homicide.
Pastor Ajayi and his son have been charged with criminal conspiracy, causing grievous hurt and attempt to commit culpable homicide.
Police information report revealed that a lawyer had written a petition against Ajayi alleging that a Pastor, Ayoade John and his wife had been engaged as Bible Study teachers on Saturdays and Sundays at a church without payment.
The FIR stated that, “On June 1, 2014 at about 20:00 hours, you, Prophet Ibigbemi Ajayi and your son Joel Ajayi, criminally conspired and went to the room of the petitioner to beat him with criminal charm and his right hand swelled, simply because he answered a phone call while you are speaking with him. On June 13, 2014 at about 20:00 hours, the petitioner met you for settlement when you, Ibigbemi Ajayi and Joel Ajayi, conspired together and beat him up with a stick and he sustained [a] fracture on his right hand and also shot at him, causing him to sustain injuries on his stomach as a result of slight touch of the pellet. You hereby committed the above offences.”
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges and although their bail was opposed by the police prosecutor who claimed there were “overwhelming evidences” against them, they were granted bail of N250,000 each and two sureties on the grounds that the duo had enjoyed police bail prior to their arraignment.
