Pastor John Abiodun has been handed a two year jail sentence over a false allegation against the founder of an Akure-based church.
Abiodun was sued by the founder of the Promiseland Prophetic Ministry, Akure, Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi in 2019 after he alleged that he (Akinbiyi) buried seven placentas in his church’s altar.
Abiodun who Akinbiyi accused of swearing an affidavit before the Commissioner for Oaths on the matter, was arraigned alongside a lecturer of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof Lanre Olu-Adeyemi on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, publications of false information, perjury, impersonation, threatening violence amongst others.
Olu-Adeyemi was accused of being the administrator of the WhatsApp group through which the false publication and accusation was circulated.
Justice Bode Adegbehingbe found Abiodun who is a former member of Akinbiyi's church, guilty of count 5 of the charge for contradicting himself while giving evidence on the allegation against him.
He listed allegations against the Abiodun to include using different church WhatsApp platforms and other social media to malign, carry out false publication and wrongly accuse the founder of the church.
Justice Adegbehingbe who affirmed that the law states that anybody found guilty of perjury was liable to life or 14 years imprisonment, reduced the jail term to two years after the defence counsel, Mr Olanrewaju Adesanmi pleaded for leniency.
The second defendant, Olu-Adeyemi was thereafter discharged and acquitted due to lack of evidence against him.
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