International, David Oyedepo, failed to appear in
court on Wednesday when the suit filed against
him for slapping a young lady during a church
service last year was mentioned at the Ogun
State High Court.
A Lagos-based lawyer, Robert Igbinedion,had filed
a suit on behalf of the lady, seeking an award of
N2billion as "general and exemplary
damages"against the popular pastor.
Oyedepo's lawyer, Agboamwu,who showed up on
behalf of the first and second respondents,
namely Oyedepo and the church, pleaded for
time to file a defence.
The court granted the defence five days to
respond to the suit.
Igbinedion had filed for the enforcement of the
lady's fundamental rights to freedom from
inhuman and degrading treatment, human
dignity, fair hearing, and freedom from
discrimination.
Justice Ojo, who heard the case at Court 1, High
Court, Sango-Ota in Ogun State, however,
adjourned hearing till June 1, 2012.
Igbinedion had earlier condemned Oyedepo's
action, referring to the altar call for witches to
come out as "illegal".
Last year, Oyedepo gave the lady a slap during a
church service when she claimed to be "witch for
Jesus" after responding to an altar call made by
Oyedepo for witches to come out.
Igbinedion described the labelling of witches as
"unconstitutional, and a breach of Section 34 of
the Constitution of Nigeria, African Charter on
Human and People's Right, and United Nations
Universal Declaration on Human Right".
The suit is asking the court to compel Oyedepo to
issue a self-signed public apology to the young
lady, which should be published in two national
dailies and aired on one international satellite
television station.
The suit also seeks that a similar altar call be
made for corrupt government officials, bribe-
giving contractors, drug dealers and other
category of sinners who are members of the
Oyedepo's church.
Culled from daily times
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