Obinim escapes bench warrant
The Founder of the International God’s Way Church (IGWC), Bishop Daniel Obinim, yesterday escaped arrest after a bench warrant issued for his arrest by the Accra Circuit Court was rescinded by the court.
Advertisement
The court issued the bench warrant following the failure of Bishop Obinim and two of his pastors to make an appearance in a case in which they have been accused of flogging two teenagers during a church service.
When the case was called at 9:13 a.m. yesterday, Bishop Obinim, Pastor Kingsley Baah and Pastor Solomon Abraham were nowhere to be found.
The court, subsequently, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the three.
However, 10 minutes after the warrant had been issued by the court, the lawyer for the accused persons, Mr Raphael Poku Adusei, arrived in the courtroom and five minutes later Bishop Obinim and the two pastors also showed up.
Traffic
In his attempt to have the bench warrant rescinded, Mr Adusei explained that he and his clients got to court late because they had been held up in vehicular traffic.
In response, the presiding judge, Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku, rejected the excuse, stating that she lived far away from the court but always got to work before 8 a.m.
Counsel subsequently apologised to the court and the bench warrant was rescinded.
The court has fixed December 16 and 17, 2016 for the continuation of the case.
Take pictures
Soon after the case was adjourned, Bishop Obinim boldly invited journalists who had thronged the court premises to take pictures of him and his entourage.
He posed with his other pastors and declared that he would continue to speak the truth and do what he described as “God’s will”.
“Even Paul was sent to prison on numerous occasions. I will continue to speak the truth because only true men of God speak the truth,’’ he said.
Bail
The self-styled angel and the two pastors have each been granted bail in the sum of GH₵10,000.
Bishop Obinim has been charged with physical abuse, contrary to the Domestic Violence Act (732), while the two pastors have been charged with abetment of crime.
The three have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Facts
According to the prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abraham Annor, the two victims, aged 16 and 14, were Bishop Obinim’s adopted children.
He explained that on August 17, 2016, during a church service, “Bishop Obinim claimed he had a revelation from God that the two victims had been engaged in premarital sex, resulting in a pregnancy.’’
Ordered by Holy Spirit
Mr Annor added that Bishop Obinim announced that “he had been directed by the Holy Spirit to chastise them in front of the whole congregation.”
“He immediately subjected the two victims to serious beatings with his black leather belt, in the full glare of the congregation,’’ he said.
According to the prosecutor, Bishop Obinim was assisted to indulge in the act by Pastor Baah and Pastor Abraham.
“Pastor Baah held the girl and prevented her from running away, while Bishop Obinim continued to beat her. When she could not bear the pain any longer, she sought refuge with Bishop Obinim’s wife, Mrs Florence Obinim,’’ he explained.
Mr Annor added that Pastor Abraham brought the girl back for Bishop Obinim to continue with the beating.
“Bishop Obinim, assisted by the two pastors, continued to physically abuse the two teenagers till they were satisfied before releasing them,’’ he added.