Obinim ‘fires’ Lawyer

• Posted on June 2, 2020June 2, 2020
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The trial of pastor Daniel Obinim, founder of the International God’s Way Church (IGWC), has been adjourned to July 20, 2020 by a Kaneshie Magistrate Court in Accra.

This was after the prosecution had asked the court to give them time to conclude their investigations into the matter yesterday.

Obinim has been charged with publication of false news, as well as forgery of a document contrary to Sections 208 and 159 of the Criminal and other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

New Lawyer

However, Obinim, who claims to be an angel of God and has been frequenting heaven, came to court with a new set of lawyers as his usual lawyer, Ralph Poku Adusei, has been replaced.

He was there with a team of four lawyers led by Dela Blagogee of Blagogee, Blacksword and Co (Unlimited) law firm who introduced himself as the new counsel in the case.

The court, however, asked the other three lawyers to wait outside as a result of the Chief Justice’s directive that only one lawyer is allowed per a case as part of measures to curtail the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) through the courtrooms.

Obinim was in African wear (gold top and down) and a black snicker, with white shoes to match.

He was whisked away in a black Toyota Land Cruiser V8 immediately after the brief proceedings like a minister of state.

Prosecution Request

The prosecution led by ASP Sylvester Asare told the court yesterday that they were ‘far advanced’ with their investigations into the matter and prayed the court to adjourn the case to give them more time to put final touches to the work done so far.

He said the prosecution had agreed with the defence team to return on June 29, 2020, but the court presided over by Magistrate Rosemond Agyiri said the accused was already on bail and asked the parties to decide on a different date by which time the prosecution would be ready.

The court and the parties then agreed to return on July 20, 2020.

Obinim Troubles

Obinim was in police custody for about three nights after being arrested and charged and has since been able to extricate the bail bond.

Last Thursday, as part of the bail conditions set by the Kaneshie Magistrate Court, Obinim reported to the Police Headquarters.

He spent a couple of hours with the police CID before leaving the premises after 1pm.

Arrest & Detention

Obinim was granted bail by the Kaneshie Magistrate Court in Accra last week in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties, one to be justified, but was not able to extricate the bail bond on time and had to remain in cells until Friday, May 22, when he finally walked home.

According to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who has launched a crusade to expose fake pastors and claims Obinim is one of them, Obinim has since been cooling off in Akosombo since he left police cells.

Main Complainant

Although the police have not released the identity of the complainant, DAILY GUIDE understands that it was through the effort of the firebrand MP that led to Obinim’s arrest.

Kennedy Agyapong has confirmed that he personally reported the pastor to the Inspector General of Police for offences including fraud, money laundering and misuse of the police logo to harass some of the boys he has been having criminal deals with.

As if that is not enough, the MP who has been having running battles with the maverick pastor, has reported him (Obinim) to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for the anti-graft body to investigate him over alleged money-laundering and other related crimes.

GRA Push

Already, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is chasing Obinim to pay about GH¢1.6 million in taxes to the state.

On May 13, 2020, an Accra High Court presided by Justice Doreen G. Boakye-Agyei dismissed Obinim’s application that was challenging the GRA’s decision to ask him to settle a tax liability of GH¢1,591,797.50.

According to the court, the GRA followed due process in determining and notifying Obinim about his tax liabilities and that Obinim had not followed laid-down procedures to make his objections to be given a hearing as required by law.

“He cannot use his failure as a ground to seek judicial review. This instant case is not a proper and appropriate case for the court to exercise its powers of judicial review,” Justice Boakye-Agyei stated.

Sources close to Obinim are saying that he intends to instruct his lawyers to challenge the decision because as far as he is concerned he paid his taxes to the state.

Previous Cases

Obinim is no stranger to criminal prosecution, as he has had brushes with the law on at least two occasions.

In the first case, he vandalized a private radio station – Hot FM – but was acquitted and discharged in October 2015 after the complainants had allegedly lost interest in the case.

In September 2018, Obinim and two of his pastors were sentenced to a total fine of GH¢12,000 by an Accra Circuit Court after they had been accused of assaulting two teenagers on the premises of IGWC.

By Gibril Abdul Razak