There was outrage in Akure over the alleged assault of a 68-year-old pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Mrs. Felicia Akindurotoye, by a Judge of the Court of Appeal, Justice Folayemi Omoleye.
Igbere TV gathered that the incident happened on Wednesday, during the midweek service of the RCCG in Ijapo, Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Justice Omoleye allegedly came inside the church, Glory Tabernacles, at about 10:00a.m. disrupting the then ongoing Wednesday’s Divine Encounter service.
The judge whose her private residence is located beside the church, is said to have been having a running battle with the RCCG, claiming that prayers and noise from the church members usually disturb her.
The church was said to have been built in the place since 1989, while the judge was said to have bought the house beside the church about 10 years ago.
A source who attended the church service said it took the intervention of men of the Nigeria Police from Ijapo Police station to stop the judge from further public fisticuffs at the church.
The source who craved anonymity said: “Hon. Justice Omoleye Folayemi of the Court of Appeal, Akure, enters the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Glory Tabernacle Parish, Ijapo Estate-Akure.
“The Provincial Headquarters of Ondo Province 1 during our mid-week Wednesday Divine Encounter Service between the hours of 10a.m and 12p.m., and slapped a 68-year-old woman, and one of the pastors who tried to advise her not to disrupt the church service.”
Confirming the attack, the Assistant Pastor, Olatunde Awoyelu, and Pastor Dele Oyesola in-charge of the affected church, described the incident as “unfortunate.”
They described Folayemi’s action as strange and dishonourable to a very senior legal officer.
Also, the Pastor in Charge of the Region 22 comprising Ondo and Ekiti States, Pastor Idris Umar, said the church had directed its lawyer to write a petition against the Judge for her dishonourable action by slapping and beating a 68-year-old Assistant Pastor, Mrs. Felicia Akindurojoye and another Parish pastor Felix Solomon during the Wednesday’s Divine Encounter service.
He said the woman was rushed to the State Specialist Hospital for treatment over the injury received while Solomon did not sustain serious injury.
Umar said the petition would be forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate and punish Justice Omoleye.
On his part, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Femi Joseph, said investigations had begun into the matter.
Joseph said the DPO in charge of Ijapo Police Station has been directed by the Commissioner of Police to interrogate all the parties to the dispute.
