An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan on Thursday commenced hearing in a forgery case leveled against Pastor Mose Ayantoye of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).
The defendant is facing trial in a 31-count charges bordering on forgery and impersonation.
The prosecution witness, DSP Charles Oluwatoki,while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Michael Lana,said that, he was part of the team that investigated the case.
The witness said that he worked at the Police Zonal Criminal Investigation Department Zone II Osogbo.
However,effort of the prosecutor to tender some documents through the witness was objected by the defendant’s counsel, Mr Anthony Daramola, who said he was not served with the document.
The prosecutor, then prayed for adjournment and promised to supply the defendant’s counsel all the necessary documents in prosecuting the matter.
Justice Racheal Akintola adjourned the case until Oct. 8 and 15 for continuation of hearing.
It would be recalled that the prosecutor had alleged that the defendant forged the letterhead of CAC to write a letter and later forwarded to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 11, Osogbo.
Lana alleged that false statements were made in the letter against pastors and the solicitor of the church including officers of the Corporate Affairs Commission to get them falsely prosecuted for criminal offences.
The prosecutor said the defendant, with intent to defraud, also came up with documents of the church without any authority and wrote a letter to the Legal Practitioners and Privileges Committee.
The defendant, according to Lana, provided false information to the Chairman, Legal Practitioners and Privileges Committee, to deprive an applicant seeking the rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The prosecutor further alleged that the defendant published a defamatory matter against the President and other Trustees of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria in the national dailies of Oct. 18, 2021.
He said the offences contravened Sections 117, 125A, 373, 375, 484, 473, 463, and 465 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charges and had been granted bail. ●NAN
