The leader of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Genesis Global Parish, Prophet Israel Ogundipe, has been granted a post-conviction bail.
Recall that Justice Olabisi Akinlade sentenced the cleric to one-year imprisonment for converting a woman’s property to his personal use and stealing.
The court found Ogundipe guilty of stealing and unlawful conversion of the property of a London-based architect, Mrs Oladele Williams-Oni.
Ogundipe after the judgement, approached the court through his counsel, Babatunde K. Ogala, for bail pending appeal and an application to quash the conviction.
Ogala noted that his client is diabetic, and could no longer follow a strict diet.
He also argued that the constant specialised medical attention in custody, which had taken a toll on his health made him “gaunt in appearance.”
He stated, among others, that prior to his incarceration, Ogundipe was suffering from hypertension, peptic ulcer and frequent malaria which had worsened his health challenges since his November 18 conviction.
Delivering the lead ruling Justice Abudullhai Muhammed Bayero held: “There are criteria for granting a convict bail. These include that the applicant must be a first-time offender or have serious health conditions.”
“The applicant seeking bail pending appeal before the court is a first-time offender and he has also shown to the court that he is having hypertension, peptic ulcer, unending malaria and diabetic, which are serious health conditions.”
“He is consequently admitted to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must have landed property on Lagos Island with original Certificates of Occupancy from the Lagos State Government.”
“The sureties are to deposit these documents along with their passport photographs with the Deputy Registrar of the Court of Appeal.”
