Rev Chris Okotie, it would be recalled took dafphee, a man who played the keyboard in his church for fourteen years, to court on the accusation that dafphee had assaulted him. Here are the charges: 1. that the defendant assaulted the Rev chris Okotie within the church py2. That the defendant threatened Rev Chris Okotie in front of the whole congregation and prevented him from preaching.
3. that the defendant conducted himself in a manner capable of breaching public peace.
Now that the trial has begun we will bring you a full text of the proceedings. We recognise the right of the defendant to a public trial and not a secret trial. A right enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria and the criminal code.
The first witness Okotie brought to court is Niyi Ajayi. He says he is a security consultant. He is in charge of security in Mr Chris Okotie’s church. He claims that he, amongst other job descriptions, works as a PA to Mr Chris Okotie.
Prosecution: do you know the defendant?
Niyi Ajayi: yes, he used to work with us as a volunteer in church. He used to play the keyboard.
Prosecution: cast your mind back to the 15th day of July 2012 and tell us what happened?
Niyi Ajayi: the defendant came to church claiming that the church is owing him for the services he rendered to the church by playing the keyboard. He caused a lot of commotion that people started running away from the church. he had, prior to that time, announced his coming and we were waiting for him. we handed him over to the police. He also made several publications in the newspapers alleging that Rev Chris is owing him. (the prosecution now handed a photo copy of the publication to be tendered as evidence. The defense counsel, after going through the document objected to it being not a true certified copy. The magistrate rejected the document).
Prosecution: who arrested the defendant?
Niyi: we called in the police
Prosecution: i said who arrested the defendant.
Niyi: the police
Prosecution: cast your mind back to the 15th day of July 2012 and tell us what happened?
Niyi Ajayi: the defendant came to church claiming that the church is owing him for the services he rendered to the church by playing the keyboard. He caused a lot of commotion that people started running away from the church. he had, prior to that time, announced his coming and we were waiting for him. we handed him over to the police. He also made several publications in the newspapers alleging that Rev Chris is owing him. (the prosecution now handed a photo copy of the publication to be tendered as evidence. The defense counsel, after going through the document objected to it being not a true certified copy. The magistrate rejected the document).
Prosecution: who arrested the defendant?
Niyi: we called in the police
Prosecution: i said who arrested the defendant.
Niyi: the police
At this point the witness was handed over to the defense lawyer for cross examination.
Defense: please tell the court what you do for a living.
Niyi Ajayi: i am a securtiy consultant. I also work for chris okotie as his PA on volunteer basis just like the defendand is a volunteer. Defense: please speak for yourself
CONTI…
Niyi ajayi: i am also in charge of security and other things. All on volunteer basis.
Defense: so how many hours do you put in daily?
niyi ajayi: i cant say
Defense: would it be ok to say you put in like twelve hours?
niyi ajayi: i cant say cause i also do other things in other departments of the church and also in pastors house. Even if am not there my boys are there. I had to be more on ground when the defendant started to cause commotion in the church.
Defense: how did you know that the defendant was a volunteer worker in the church?
Niyi Ajayi: I know because I know EVERYTHING that happens in the church being the PA to pastor.
Defense: please tell the court what you do for a living.
Niyi Ajayi: i am a securtiy consultant. I also work for chris okotie as his PA on volunteer basis just like the defendand is a volunteer. Defense: please speak for yourself
CONTI…
Niyi ajayi: i am also in charge of security and other things. All on volunteer basis.
Defense: so how many hours do you put in daily?
niyi ajayi: i cant say
Defense: would it be ok to say you put in like twelve hours?
niyi ajayi: i cant say cause i also do other things in other departments of the church and also in pastors house. Even if am not there my boys are there. I had to be more on ground when the defendant started to cause commotion in the church.
Defense: how did you know that the defendant was a volunteer worker in the church?
Niyi Ajayi: I know because I know EVERYTHING that happens in the church being the PA to pastor.
At this point the witness was handed over to the defense lawyer for cross examination.
Defense: please tell the court what you do for a living.
Niyi Ajayi: i am a securtiy consultant. I also work for chris okotie as his PA on volunteer basis just like the defendand is a volunteer. Defense: please speak for yourself
Niyi ajayi: i am also in charge of security and other things. All on volunteer basis.
Defense: so how many hours do you put in daily?
niyi ajayi: i cant say
Defense: would it be ok to say you put in like twelve hours?
niyi ajayi: i cant say cause i also do other things in other departments of the church and also in pastors house. Even if am not there my boys are there. I had to be more on ground when the defendant started to cause commotion in the church.
Defense: how did you know that the defendant was a volunteer worker in the church?
Niyi Ajayi: I know because I know EVERYTHING that happens in the church being the PA to pastor.
Defense: did you also investigate the defendant’s claims?
Niyi Ajayi: there was no point investigating cause I know EVERYTHING that happens in church.
defense: would it surprise you to know that the defendant wrote a letter to Rev Chris Okotie concerning his entitlements and also a lawyer wrote a letter to Chris Okotie prosecution: objection! this has no relevance with the case.
defense: we are trying to establish the status of the defendant within the church.
Niyi Ajayi: i am a securtiy consultant. I also work for chris okotie as his PA on volunteer basis just like the defendand is a volunteer. Defense: please speak for yourself
Niyi ajayi: i am also in charge of security and other things. All on volunteer basis.
Defense: so how many hours do you put in daily?
niyi ajayi: i cant say
Defense: would it be ok to say you put in like twelve hours?
niyi ajayi: i cant say cause i also do other things in other departments of the church and also in pastors house. Even if am not there my boys are there. I had to be more on ground when the defendant started to cause commotion in the church.
Defense: how did you know that the defendant was a volunteer worker in the church?
Niyi Ajayi: I know because I know EVERYTHING that happens in the church being the PA to pastor.
Defense: did you also investigate the defendant’s claims?
Niyi Ajayi: there was no point investigating cause I know EVERYTHING that happens in church.
defense: would it surprise you to know that the defendant wrote a letter to Rev Chris Okotie concerning his entitlements and also a lawyer wrote a letter to Chris Okotie prosecution: objection! this has no relevance with the case.
defense: we are trying to establish the status of the defendant within the church.
defense: we are trying to establish the status of the defendant within the church.
Mgt: overruled answer the question
Niyi Ajayi: i dont know.
defense: We are aware that there is CCTV that monitors every strategic area, both inside and outside of the church?
Niyi Ajayi: yes that is right.
defense: that means if we ask you to bring the video evidence of what happened in the church on that day you can bring them?
Niyi Ajayi: NO
defense: why not?
Niyi Ajayi: am not the one in charge of the CCTV.
defense: So who is in charge?
Niyi Ajayi: I don’t know
defense: shouldn’t you know as one that is in charge of security? Niyi Ajayi: that is a suggestion that I will look into
defense: (to the mgt) your honour the witness has not answered my question.
Niyi Ajayi: I just told you it’s a suggestion that we will look into.
Mgt: overruled answer the question
Niyi Ajayi: i dont know.
defense: We are aware that there is CCTV that monitors every strategic area, both inside and outside of the church?
Niyi Ajayi: yes that is right.
defense: that means if we ask you to bring the video evidence of what happened in the church on that day you can bring them?
Niyi Ajayi: NO
defense: why not?
Niyi Ajayi: am not the one in charge of the CCTV.
defense: So who is in charge?
Niyi Ajayi: I don’t know
defense: shouldn’t you know as one that is in charge of security? Niyi Ajayi: that is a suggestion that I will look into
defense: (to the mgt) your honour the witness has not answered my question.
Niyi Ajayi: I just told you it’s a suggestion that we will look into.
Mgt: (to Niyi Ajayi) are you trying to make fun of the court? it’s a simple yes or no or I don’t know.
defense: shouldn’t you as one in charge of security know who is in charge of the cctv?
Niyi Ajayi: i dont know. In fact nobody is in charge of the cctv Defense: Nobody is incharge?
Niyi: yes no one is in charge
Defense: So i can just go in and have access to the informations on the cctv?
Niyi: no
Defense: no? But you just said no one is in charge.
Niyi: you can only get access with the pastors permission.
Defense: so you are saying that pastor is in charge?
Niyi: no i did not say that.
Defense: where is the cctv located?
niyi: the pastors office.
Defense: is there a human resourses department in the church? Niyi: i dont know
Defense: you don’t seem to know a lot yet you told the court that you know everything that goes on in the church. No further questions your honour..
Mgt: the witness is excused. Prosecution please call your other witness
Prosecution: your honour the time is far spent and i would like to ask for an adjournment.
Mgt: i do not work like that. I do my things sharp sharp. Next time i will not accept this from you. I have other things to do. I cant be taking just one witness at every sitting. The case is hereby adjourned to 26 march.
defense: shouldn’t you as one in charge of security know who is in charge of the cctv?
Niyi Ajayi: i dont know. In fact nobody is in charge of the cctv Defense: Nobody is incharge?
Niyi: yes no one is in charge
Defense: So i can just go in and have access to the informations on the cctv?
Niyi: no
Defense: no? But you just said no one is in charge.
Niyi: you can only get access with the pastors permission.
Defense: so you are saying that pastor is in charge?
Niyi: no i did not say that.
Defense: where is the cctv located?
niyi: the pastors office.
Defense: is there a human resourses department in the church? Niyi: i dont know
Defense: you don’t seem to know a lot yet you told the court that you know everything that goes on in the church. No further questions your honour..
Mgt: the witness is excused. Prosecution please call your other witness
Prosecution: your honour the time is far spent and i would like to ask for an adjournment.
Mgt: i do not work like that. I do my things sharp sharp. Next time i will not accept this from you. I have other things to do. I cant be taking just one witness at every sitting. The case is hereby adjourned to 26 march.
At this point one of the three lawyers watching brief for reverent chris okotie, Mr Kola Dopemu now rose up.
Kola: your honour, the last time you gave an order that the defendant should not make any more comments about the case but sad to say the defendant is still making comments on the social media, facebook to be precise.
Mgt: (to the defendant) if I ever hear any such thing again i will revoke your bail and have you come to court from kirikiri.
The defendant now raised his hands to talk but the magistrate said he cannot talk being the accused in the matter. But the defendant (mr Okiotor Dafiaghor) insisted. The magistrate now granted him leave to talk.
The defendant: Okotie and his people are trying to set me up here. Your honour is asking me to control the internet. Even the president and commander in chief of the armed forces of nigeria cannot control the internet. On facebook i can be anybody and anybody can be me. I can be the president and i can even be you your honour. They can create an account in my name and with my picture which is available online and print out contents and say i posted them. Chris okotie has not hidden his intention to put me in kirikiri and if he cannot get it through this trial he wont mind getting it through the back door.
The magistrate now smiled and dismissed the application. Case adjourned to 26 march 2013.
Kola: your honour, the last time you gave an order that the defendant should not make any more comments about the case but sad to say the defendant is still making comments on the social media, facebook to be precise.
Mgt: (to the defendant) if I ever hear any such thing again i will revoke your bail and have you come to court from kirikiri.
The defendant now raised his hands to talk but the magistrate said he cannot talk being the accused in the matter. But the defendant (mr Okiotor Dafiaghor) insisted. The magistrate now granted him leave to talk.
The defendant: Okotie and his people are trying to set me up here. Your honour is asking me to control the internet. Even the president and commander in chief of the armed forces of nigeria cannot control the internet. On facebook i can be anybody and anybody can be me. I can be the president and i can even be you your honour. They can create an account in my name and with my picture which is available online and print out contents and say i posted them. Chris okotie has not hidden his intention to put me in kirikiri and if he cannot get it through this trial he wont mind getting it through the back door.
The magistrate now smiled and dismissed the application. Case adjourned to 26 march 2013.
