Security & Crime
Prophet Babatunde: Prosecutor Frowns At Slow Pace Of Case Over Missing Toddler.
Prosecutor in the ongoing trial of Prophet Alfa Babatunde, founder of Sotitobire Miracle Centre, Akure, over the case of a missing one-year-old boy, Eniola Gold kolawole, has frowned at the slow pace of the case.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday at the High Court in Akure, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adekola Olawoye, who is also the lead prosecutor, said the defense counsel was dragging the matter by repeting witnesses.
Prophet Babatunde had last week opened his defense before the High Court through his lawyer, Olusola Oke.
Mr Taiwo Fagite, Personal Assistant to the Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, appeared in court on Tuesday as the 4th witness for the defense.
Fagite alleged that the parents of the missing boy, Kolawole, were not forthcoming after they reported the case at the palace until they were made to swear an oath in the palace alongside the 14 teachers of the church.
He said the Akure monarch had invited both Prophet Babatunde and the boy’s parents but only the cleric showed up.
During cross-examination, Fagite also said the prophet during his first visit to the palace came with a senior police officer.
The 5th witness for the defense, Funmilayo Ogunlusi, a cleric in the church, said they had a vigil the day the incident occurred and a nine-day fast and prayer by ministers for the recovery of the child.
Lead defence counsel, Oke, told the court that he would not be calling the earlier slated 6th witness to avoid repetition of facts and asked the court for an adjournment.
Justice Olusegun Odunsola in his ruling adjourned the case until July 14, 2020 following the application of the lead defence counsel.
Odusola also ordered that Prophet Babatunde and his six co-defendants were returned to the facility of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Olokuta, Akure.
A 30-year-old man, Ofobuike Damian, has appeared before an Abakaliki magistrates’ court 2 for stabbing his aged mother to death.
Damian, whose address was not provided, pleaded guilty to a count of murder.
The Prosecutor, Mr. David Njoku, Senior State Council, told the court that Damian committed the offences on March 19, 2026, at Ohatekwe, Ukawu, in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
Njoku said the defendant caused the death of his mother, Mrs. Onyema Damian, by stabbing her with a knife in the back.
He noted that the offence was punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 33 vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009.
The defendant, who had no legal representation, told the court that he killed his mother for refusing to bathe him.
“I don’t know what really happened, but I can remember that I killed her over her refusal to bathe me,” he told the court.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Chinedu Agama, ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre, as the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Agama ordered that the case file and exhibits be forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.
He, therefore, adjourned the matter to April 9.
Tragedy struck in Kano yesterday when a 30-year-old man, identified as Mutawakilu Ibrahim, allegedly stabbed his grandparents, Muhammad Dansokoto and Hadiza Tasidi, to death following an altercation over food.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, Abdullahi Haruna, said the suspect, believed to have been under the influence of intoxicants, used a knife to stab both victims multiple times, inflicting severe injuries.
The victims were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, where medical personnel confirmed them dead. Their corpses were later released to their relatives for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
According to the police statement: “On September 25, 2025, at about 9:30 a.m., a resident of Kofar Dawanau Quarters reported that one Mutawakilu Ibrahim, aged 30, had a quarrel with his grandparents, Muhammad Dansokoto, aged 75, and Hadiza Tasidi, aged 65, over a food-related disagreement.
“During the altercation, the suspect allegedly used a knife to stab both victims in various parts of their bodies, causing severe injuries. The suspect, suspected to be under the influence of intoxicants, has since been arrested.”
Haruna added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Homicide Section, for discreet investigation.
He assured that the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
A missing teenager, Master Lawal Wahab, 16, has been found dead with his heart, wrist and genitals harvested by persons suspected to be ritualists.
The deceased, until his mysterious disappearance, had been staying with his grandmother, before he was declared missing by his father, Mr. Lawal Olumide.
However, his lifeless and decomposed body was discovered along the Old Express Road, Igbile-Ijebu on July 23rd, 2025 with his remains severely mutilated.
The Ogun Police Command, which confirmed the incident, said it is investigating case, suspecting to be a ritual murder.
The spokesperson of the command, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Omolola Odutola, said officers from Omu-Ijebu Division have arrested suspects identified as Salawu Omikansola (25 years) ‘m’, Serefusi Agemo ‘m’, and others in connection with the murder.
Odutola said one of the suspects had made a voluntary confessional statement, which was also recorded on video.
According to her, investigation revealed that the boy’s head, both wrists, heart, and genitals had been gruesomely removed—suggesting ritualistic motives.
The police spokesperson, however, added that the deceased has been buried in accordance with Islamic rites due to the state of the remains.
He said: “The case file, alongside exhibits, is being prepared for immediate transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for further discreet investigation. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing accomplices.
“The Ogun State Police Command condemns this heinous act and assures the public that justice will be pursued to its logical conclusion.
“We urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.”
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