A pastor who is also a legal practitioner, Aka-Bashorun Olawale Akanni, was on Wednesday, re-arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja for the alleged indecent treatment of a 14-year-old girl.

The Lagos State Government re-arraigned Akanni on a one-count charge bordering on the indecent treatment of a child.

The charge alleged that the defendant, who also serves as a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, indecently assaulted the minor at the Iwaya area of Lagos by fondling her breasts.

The prosecution counsel, Funmilola Aluko, told the court that the defendant had unlawfully fondled the breasts of the minor.

According to her, the offence committed contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, defence counsel, Morenikeji Oyekunle, prayed the court to allow her client to continue on the bail earlier granted by a Magistrate’s Court, arguing that he had complied with all conditions and was not a flight risk, being a lawyer and clergyman.

But Aluko opposed the bail request, urging the court to review the terms of release.

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi upheld the bail conditions previously granted by the Magistrate’s Court and directed the defence counsel to ensure the defendant’s presence at every adjourned date.

After the ruling, the prosecution informed the court that the complainant, now 27 years old, was present and ready to testify.

Led in evidence by the prosecution, the witness told the court that she met the defendant through her father, who was a member of the defendant’s church, the RCCG, on Lagos Island.

She said that in 2010, when she was about eight years old, she moved in with the defendant’s family to improve her academic performance and participate more actively in the church choir.

The witness alleged that during her stay, the defendant began to molest her sexually and physically.

She narrated how he would assault her and subject her to severe punishment whenever she performed poorly in school.

According to her, she eventually ran away from the defendant’s house and reported the matter to her parents.

She said she officially lodged a complaint in 2023 after learning of a similar incident involving another minor in the same church.

Under cross-examination, the witness told the court that she first confided in her class teacher, identified as Mrs. Akingbeoyewa, about the alleged abuse while still living with the defendant.

At the close of her testimony, the defence requested an adjournment to enable it to obtain the Certified True Copy of the witness’s evidence.

The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that further delay could cause emotional distress to the witness.

Justice Oshodi granted the adjournment but invoked Section 193 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, awarding a cost of N50,000, in favour of the witness, to be paid by the defence before the next trial date.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to December 9, 2025, for continuation of the trial. (The PUNCH)