Abuse of victims attracted me to Obinim case, not popularity - Complainant

The complainant in the case of Bishop Daniel Obinim and two of his pastors’ assault case says the assertion by defence counsel that she was hungry for cheap popularity was wrong and misplaced.

Madam Irene Abotchie-Nyahe, a legal practitioner, told an Accra Circuit Court that she had worked for a long time for the downtrodden and she did not pick on the accused persons' case to become popular.

Continuing with her cross-examination by Ralph Poku-Adusei, counsel for the accused persons, the complainant admitted that she was a passive member of the congregation International God’s way International Church through the magic of television.

According to her, as a passive member of the congregation of the church, she did not need to be a member.

The witness said she saw the abuse by the accused persons on television and a video that had gone viral.

The first prosecution witness admitted that she did not ‘personally’ know the victim in the case but maintained that she had personal knowledge of their abuse.

She explained that her attention was drawn to the abuse of the victim and she personally downloaded it on the internet

According to the witness armed with the video evidence, she proceeded to the Police.

She disagreed with counsel that she was downloading every video on the internet.

The complainant said it was the abuse of the victims that attracted her attention to the matter.

She, however, did not hide from the court Obinim’s several videos in which she alleged that the pastor had been seen squeezing penis of some men, stamping on pregnant women in the name of healing and jumping on other people.

Bishop Obinim has been dragged before the Court for allegedly assaulting two adopted children - a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy who lived with him in the presence of his congregation.

He is said to have conducted that act with two of his pastors namely Kingsley Baah and Solomon Abraham. The two have been charged with abetment.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been granted bail in the sum of GHC10,000 with one surety each.

The Prosecution narrated that the complainant, Irene Abochie-Nyahe, was a legal practitioner residing at Community 17, Lashibi.

That on August 17, last year, at about 1700 hours, the Accra Branch of the Church held a service, at which Bishop Obinim claimed he had a revelation from God that the two alleged victims were engaged in pre-marital sex and the 14-year old girl was pregnant.

The prosecution said Obinim said the victim was in the process of aborting the pregnancy, therefore, the Holy Spirit had directed him (Obinim) to chastise the (teenagers) in the presence of the congregation.

According to the prosecution in the full glare of the church, Obinim allegedly removed his belt and assaulted them.

The prosecution said in the process, his two pastors, Baah and Abraham, prevented the female victim from running away from the said punishment.

The prosecution said the victim could not bear the pain, hence she sought refuge with Florence Obinim, but her husband asked her to stay away.

He said the assault only stopped after Obinim became content with the alleged punishment.

The case has been adjourned to March 31.
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com