Akure Missing Child: Appeal Court Frees Sotitobire’s Church Teacher, Ogunjobi

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure has freed one of the teachers of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Akure, Mrs Grace Ogunjobi.

She had earlier been convicted by an Ondo State High Court of Conspiracy in the disappearance of Gold Kolawole in the church in November, 2019.

The Appellate Court on Friday held that the lower court was wrong to have convicted Mrs Ogunjobi of conspiracy, aiding and abetting without sufficient evidence.

Subsequently, the Appellate Court set aside judgement of the lower court and discharged the appellant.

Mrs Grace Ogunjobi was among other church members arrested with the founder of Sotitobire praising chapel, Akure over the disappearance of the one year old Gold Kolawole in the Church in November 2019.

She was found guilty of conspiring, aiding and abetting the disappearance of the boy by Justice Olusegun Odusola of the Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure and slammed with life imprisonment.

Disatisfied with judgement of the lower court, she approached the court of appeal, Akure Division asking the appelate court to quash the sentence.

In its judgement today, the appelate court held that there was no evidence to prove allegation of aiding and abetting and conspiracy leveled against the appellant adding that the lower court was wrong to have convicted her.

The court held that the circumstantial evidence which the lower court relied on was more of sentiment and emotion which could not hold water in finding the appellant guilty and therefore discharged and acquitted the appellant.

Her Counsel, Akinyemi Omoware and the director of Public prosecution, Leo Ológun spoke after the ruling.

The appellant is expected to be freed after perfection of necessary paper works.