Placenta on Altar: Ondo Court jails Pastor for Perjury, frees AAUA Don

The Ondo state high court sitting in Akure on Thursday sentenced a former member of a Pentecostal Church in Akure, Pastor John Abiodun to two years imprisonment on a count of perjury and publishing life-threatening and inciting stories about one Ajidahun Emmanuel Jeminiyi.

Abiodun and Lanre Olu-Adeyemi, were brought before the High Court sitting in the state capital, over eight counts of conspiracy publications of false information, among other charges.

The presiding Judge, Justice Bode Adegbehingbe however discharged and acquitted Prof. Lanre Olu-Adeyemi who is a lecturer in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, on all five counts against him in connection with alleged planting of a placenta on the altar of a church in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

They were earlier arraigned for conspiring to publish life-threatening rumours, false and inciting stories about one Ajidahun Emmanuel Jeminiyi and Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi on various social media platforms.

Delivering the judgement which lasted for over three hours judgment, the Judge ruled that Pastor Abiodun John was guilty of count 5 of the case for contradicting himself while giving evidence in the allegation against him which included using different church WhatsApp platforms and other social media to malign, carry out false publication and wrongly alleged the founder of the Promiseland Prophetic Ministry located at opposite Shasha Market on Akure/Owo expressway, Akure, Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi and some elders of the church of planting baby placentas on the church’s altar and some fetish objects.

The judge said although Pastor Abiodun was guilty of fourteen years imprisonment ,he would temper justice with mercy by sentencing him for two years due to aged parents and his dependants.

Pastor John Abiodun faced eight Counts of conspiracy, publication of false news, Perjury, Impersonation and threatening violence amongst other charges, but was only found guilty of perjury, while Prof Lanre Olu-Adeyemi who stood trial on five (5) count charges of conspiracy, publication of false news, Aiding Publication of false news and aiding impersonation, was discharged and acquitted of all the charges.

Reacting to the judgement,the counsel to the convicted Pastor, Adelanke Akinrata who was represented by Adesanmi Olarenwaju had earlier pleaded for lienecy for his clients while Barr Femi Emodamori who is the lawyer to the freed Professor, expressed happiness that the court vindicated his client in the case.

On his part,the prosecuting counsel, Kayode Dare expressed satisfaction that the court’s judgement had vindicated Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi and other members of his church that John Abiodun lied against the church and its founder on burying of placentas on the altar.