A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed June 2 for its ruling on a motion filed by Reverend Israel Akanji and five others seeking to quash a five-count charge bordering on alleged N620 million fraud involving church funds.
The embattled clerics, all senior figures within the Nigerian Baptist Convention, are facing charges ranging from criminal conspiracy to forgery and diversion of funds, allegedly committed between 2012 and 2021. The case has sparked significant interest within religious and legal circles, given the status of the defendants and the gravity of the allegations.
At the latest hearing, counsel to the defense moved a motion to strike out the charges, arguing that the allegations lacked both merit and substantive evidence. He emphasized that the charge sheet failed to establish any concrete act linking the defendants to the alleged offenses, branding the entire process as a misuse of judicial resources.
Interestingly, the prosecution did not file a counter-affidavit to challenge the motion, raising further questions about the strength of its case. With both sides having presented their submissions, the presiding judge adjourned the matter to June 2 for a ruling on whether the trial will proceed or be halted entirely.
The courtroom was packed with observers, many of whom are members of the Baptist faithful eager for clarity and closure. As the case unfolds, it continues to test not only legal thresholds but also the moral expectations placed on religious leadership in the country.