An Oshodi Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Wednesday discharged a cleric, Tommy Issachar, for alleged theft of female member’s underwear and N10,000 cash.
The Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, struck out the case for want of diligent prosecution.
“The complainant in this case has refused to show up and the court is not a warehouse where cases are kept without making any significant progress,” he said.
He thereafter, struck the case out.
Issachar, who resides at No 35, Mafoluku Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, was arraigned on April 22, 2013 on a one-count charge of stealing.
Prosecutor Kehinde Olatunde had told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 12, 2013 at Mafoluku, Oshodi.
He said that the accused stole two pants, one bra and N10,000 belonging to Gift Bassey.
“The accused, a pastor of All Nations Evangelical Church, Oshodi, was invited to a programme at the headquarters of the church, which was the complainant’s church.
“The complainant and her husband accommodated the pastor in their house for three nights to conduct a special prayer session related to her husband’s business,” he said.
Olatunde said that after the accused had left their house, the complainant discovered that two of her pants, (her only black and white pants), one black brassier and N10, 000 were missing.
“In the process of investigation, it was discovered that the said underwear were taken by the accused without the complainant’s consent.
“At first, the accused denied taking the underwear, but later confessed that he actually took them.
“He said that he wanted to use them to pray for her, but denied taking the money,” Olatunde said.
Olatunde added that since the underwear was recovered from the accused, he had been sending series of threat text messages to the complainant.
He said that the offences contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011, which provide for three years imprisonment on conviction.
Issachar had pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety.
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