The Ogun State High Court sitting in
Ota, today, dismissed the assault charges brought against Bishop David
Oyedepo, the multi billionaire founder of the Living Faith Church
International (Winners’ chapel).
Recall that a Lagos based lawyer, Robert Igbinedion, had filed a lawsuit
on behalf of a girl who was filmed being slapped by the founder of
Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) during a deliverance session a few years back.
Mr Igbinedion had failed to produce the girl, making it impossible to have a case against the Bishop.So, the judge said the application lacks merit as the slapped girl remains a ghost victim.
He also told Mr. Igbinedion to pay the sum N20,000 to Bishop Oyedepo.
Read more to see why the judge dismissed the case.
In his ruling, Justice Ojo the judge said that Mr. Igbinedion, in his
applications, did not claim to have attended the church service in which
the young lady was slapped.
Also, the applicant did not claim that he was told by someone who attended the service or state the date the incident happened.
“There must be an allegation by the victim whose right was violated,” said Justice Ojo.
“It is such a person that has the right of action…
“My respectful opinion is that where the course of action is exercised by a person other than the victim…
“It follows that in all cases, the owner of the identity must be available to the court. He must not be amorphous.
“Who is Miss Justice? How is she?… The court must be able to ascertain and not be left to speculate on the identity.”
The judge also struck out the applicant’s prayer to the court to award N2billion against Bishop Oyedepo.