Bishop Oyedepo Denies Slapping Church Member, Says He Cannot Be Sued (Page 5)

"We submit that slapping being an act of assault an item outside the provisions of Chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution and the African Charter, this court therefore lacks jurisdiction over same."

The multi billionaire founder of the Living Faith Christian Church International, Bishop David Oyedepo, has denied slapping a young member of his congregation; stating that neither he nor his church could be sued.

In a notice of preliminary objection filed at the High Court of Ogun State and made available to PREMIUM TIMES; Bishop Oyedepo maintained that he and his church are "non juristic persons" and therefore asked the court to strike out the suit as it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

Robert Igbinedion, a Lagos based lawyer, had in April, filed a suit on behalf of the young lady, who was slapped during a church service, for the enforcement of the lady's fundamental rights to freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment, human dignity, fair hearing, and freedom from discrimination.

Mr. Igbinedion prayed the court to award the sum of N2bn as 'general and exemplary damages' against the bishop as well as compel him to publish a public apology in two national dailies and one international satellite television.

In a counter affidavit deposed by Olugbenga Adegboye, the church's senior legal officer, Bishop Oyedepo stated that "his ministry is a ministry where the holy bible is preached and people are prayed for without coercion."

The church also said that there is no record of anyone called Miss Justice - a sobriquet given to the young lady for the purpose of the suit - in any of its services organized in the past.

A written address to support the preliminary objection signed by F. B Agbanwu, the church's Solicitor, insisted that the matter is not within the Nigeria constitution or the African Charter on Human and People's Rights.

Furthermore, the church urged the court to determine whether Mr. Igbinedion is capable of "bringing this kind of application" before it and whether "it is proper to bring this application against the 1st and 2nd respondents (Bishop Oyedepo and his church respectively).

Arguing that both Mr. Igbinedion and the respondents cannot sue and be sued, Bishop Oyedepo's lawyers noted that the cause of action must centre on clear infringement of a fundamental right.

"The cause of action or principal claim in this application centres merely on slapping one Miss Justice by the 1st respondent.

"The slapping of Miss Justice is an act that could be described as an assault which is a criminal offence punishable under the criminal code...

"We submit that slapping being an act of assault an item outside the provisions of Chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution and the African Charter, this court therefore lacks jurisdiction over same."

The court sits, June 1, for parties to adopt their motion before judgment is fixed.

In December last year, a YouTube video of Bishop Oyedepo viciously slapping a young lady who admitted that she was "a witch for Jesus" during an altar call went viral on the internet.

A second video that surfaced days later showed the bishop justifying his action adding that it is "his ministry to slap" and that "if he sees another witch, he'll slap."
 

Yes chairman, is good to be good and stand polite sometime, I wonder why people out there can't speak some sense to that idiot Oyedepo face, well I can understand because they mine be scared of his bodyguard or attack,  the must shameful things about it is, when they visit western world to minister repentance ,they we not call on witch out or slap any body, let him come down and try it one time, and see where them go put  that in dirty ass, the must crazy thing for me, people standing there clapping their hand and watching that criminal assaulting the young girl, Oh my God, they have being brainwash, I can not imaging my self if i where the father of that innocent girl, 50billions sue,  funny thing about if is, is denying, what a shame, i through he is bishop, man go and pay and apology  to that girl because you hold her that, the world is washing the movie, now is action movies for Oyedepo, hay man why is paining you to give it out?  is not yours the money belong to the people who you slapping as well, shame shame shame that you don't try this in the State, all my handsome Barrister would have sue you even 100,00billions dollars and close your fake ministry. because is ministry of going around and slapping people and boasting of it.

Would you people quit it with that "touch not my anointed" bulldust? That preacher is a smug, greedy, self-righteous bully and jerkwad who needs to be knocked off his perch.

Buhari has been mentioned as one of the sponsors of boko haram, where is Igbinedion, why can't he sue buhari for all the killings, he is suing a man of God and all of you are opening your mouths to say nonsense. If the law of human right exists in Nigeria, slapping is better than killing. Please, Igbinedion of a lawyer, sue buhar cos those people he killed had right to life.




No witch is a 'poor' girl, if you know what witches do I dont think you would be here saying nonsense. Was she forced to come to the church and say nonsense? If she is a witch, let her go to there coven an not to the church, it is the house of God.