The absence of the prosecution counsel on Thursday stalled the arraignment of a former resident pastor of the First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja, Rev. Israel Akanji, and five others over an alleged N620 million fraud.
The defendants were scheduled to be arraigned before Justice J. A. Aina of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kwali, in a case marked CR/1045/24, being prosecuted by the police.
When the matter was called, Justice Aina informed the court that the prosecution had sent a letter requesting an adjournment due to the lead counsel’s engagement at the National Assembly.
However, defence counsel, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), expressed surprise over the development, stating that his clients were ready for trial.
He also pointed out that the prosecution failed to serve the defence with the adjournment request.
Akintola further informed the court of a pending application seeking to quash the charges against the defendants.
Justice Aina, while noting that the prosecution’s request was properly filed, granted the adjournment but warned that the defence must be formally notified of such applications in the future.
The case was subsequently adjourned to May 27, 2025, for arraignment.
Akanji is standing trial alongside Rev. Thomas Ekugbene Takpatore, Mr. Babatunde Adebayo, Mrs. Adenike Adebayo, Mr. Oladele Afolabi, and Mrs. Gloria Olotu on charges of conspiracy, forgery, and criminal misappropriation of church funds.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2021 to commit a felony, violating Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution further alleged that between 2012 and 2021, the defendants forged an amended version of the church’s constitution, falsely attributing it to the late Barrister Akin Aina, who was the church’s legal adviser and secretary of the Board of Trustees.
This act, it argued, contravenes Sections 362 and 364 of the Penal Code.
Additionally, the prosecution claimed the defendants misappropriated N620 million belonging to the church, converting the funds for personal use—offences that fall under Sections 308, 309, 311, and 312 of the Penal Code, which deal with criminal breach of trust and fraudulent conversion of property.
The prosecution, led by Wisdom Madaki, also alleged that the forged church constitution was fraudulently used in 2022, an offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code.
