An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday fixed October 21 for further hearing in a forgery and impersonation case levelled against Pastor Moses Ayantoye of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).

Justice Rachael Akintola adjourned the case after the defence counsel, Anthony Daramola, finished cross-examination of the prosecution witness, Charles Oluwatoki, an investigation officer in Zone 11 Police Command, Osogbo, Osun State.

The witness had, during cross-examination, informed the court that a team of detectives from his office in Osogbo came to Ibadan to invite the defendant for investigation but could not remember the date.

He said that the defendant later honoured the invitation and his statement was taken on the same day, but he could not remember the date he honoured the invitation.

Mr Oluwatoki further informed the court that exhibits K1 to K6 tendered before the court are the re-issued CAC certificates of Incorporation issued many times due to the deaths of trustees of CAC.

He, however, said that he was not aware whether the exhibits were the bases of the several pending cases in courts in Nigeria.

The witness admitted that exhibits T1 to T3 were the reports of his investigation on the defendant, dated January 12, 2022.

The defence counsel later informed the court that he had finished the cross-examination of the witness, while the prosecution counsel, Michael Lana, prayed for an adjournment to enable him to bring his second witness in the matter.

Ms Akintola then adjourned the case until October 21 for further hearing.

The prosecution counsel had, on May 16, 2024, led witnesses in evidence and tendered some documents which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

The CAC pastor is facing a 31-count charge bordering on forgery, impersonation and fraud.

The prosecution counsel had alleged that the defendant forged the letterhead of CAC to write a letter which he later forwarded to the assistant inspector-general of police (AIG), Zone 11, Osogbo.

He alleged that false statements were made in the letter against pastors and the solicitor of the church, including officers of the Corporate Affairs Commission, to get them falsely prosecuted for criminal offences.

Mr Lana said that the defendant, with intent to defraud, also came up with documents of the church without any authority and wrote a letter containing false information to the chairman of the Legal Practitioners and Privileges Committee to deprive an applicant seeking the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The prosecutor further alleged that the defendant published defamatory matter against the president and other trustees of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria, in the national dailies of October 18, 2021.

According to him, the offences contravene Sections 117, 125A, 373, 375, 484, 473, 463, and 465 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The defendant had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges and had been granted bail. 

(NAN)