The trial of Bishop Daniel Obinim, leader of God’s Way International Ministry and his two associate pastors for assaulting two presenters of Accra-based Hot FM, after vandalizing property at the station, was yesterday adjourned to Friday.
This followed the failure of Shadrack Adu, the first witness in the case, to appear before an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Abdulai Iddrissu, to be cross-examined.
The witness, who had given assurance to the prosecuting state attorney Joyce Buerko Debrah that he was on his way to the court, was said to have failed to pick his calls.
Shadrack Adu is the producer of ‘Nya Asem Hwe’ programme of the station and was the first to run to the police station to lodge a complaint when the alleged attack took place.
The trial judge consequently adjourned the case to Friday November 8, 2013.
Meanwhile, Kwame Afriyie, counsel for Obinim and his associate pastors, Kingsley Baah and Kofi Akwetey, has informed the court that his clients wanted a new lawyer to handle the matter.
The trial judge urged him to conclude the cross-examination of Adu before handing over to the new lawyer.
Bishop Obinim was discharged by an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Audrey-Korcuvie Tay only to be re-arrested and put before an Accra High Court last week.
The flamboyant pastor and his alleged accomplices were in court yesterday dressed immaculately.
He was discharged by the circuit court when the prosecutor entered a nolle prosequi to discontinue the matter, only to be re-arrested at the court and sent to the Adabraka Police Station where fresh charges were levelled against him.
The suspects were charged with unlawful entry, causing unlawful damage, causing harm, conspiracy to commit assault, assault and three additional counts.
They denied any wrongdoing and were granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with two sureties.
Narrating the events that led to the arrest of the bishop and his associates in court, prosecuting attorney Joyce Debrah, who was led by Rita Doko, told the court that on August 8, 2011, Kwame Ntim Katakyie hosted a programme on Hot FM dubbed ‘Nya Asem Hwe’.
She said during the programme, an alleged sex scandal involving Obinim was discussed, adding that some matters relating to his wife Florence Obinim, as well as the associate pastors, Kingsley Baah and Kofi Akwetey, were also discussed.
According to the prosecution, Mrs. Obinim, who was listening to the programme informed her husband about the discussions, so the accused person and his associate pastors went straight to Hot FM in fury and forcibly entered the studios by breaking the glass doors at the entrance.
The state attorney noted that while Baah and Akwetey carried sticks, the bishop wielded a crowbar which he used in vandalizing the sliding doors valued at GH¢20,000, and other voice equipment such as a voice processor valued at GH¢3,750 and a Toshiba laptop valued at GH¢750.
In addition, she stated that the suspects destroyed a headphone amplifier valued at GH¢2,250, a Telos Hybria valued at GH¢6,000, three sets of telephones valued at GH¢2,250 and another Telos Hybria valued at GH¢18,000, FM transmitters valued at GH¢45,000 and Dell desktop computers valued at GH¢450.
Explaining further, she said the property destroyed amounted to GH¢130,580 and noted that the host of the programme Katakyie and a panellist, Rev. Ofori-Atta, were inflicted with various degrees of injury by the bishop and his accomplices.
She said the producer, Shadrack Adu, was also beaten and he escaped to Adabraka Police Station and lodged a complaint there.
By Fidelia Achama
