Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has on Tuesday rejected post-conviction bail application filed by the Senior Shepherd-in-Charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global, Prophet Israel Ogundipe.
The popular prophet was on November 18 sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of the offenses of converting a woman’s property to his personal use and stealing.
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The court found Ogundipe guilty of stealing and unlawful conversion of the property of a London-based architect, Mrs Oladele Williams-Oni.
Ogundipe, who was arraigned on seven counts bordering on obtaining by stealing, inducing delivery of money by false pretences, unlawful conversion of property and forgery, fraudulently collected N14m and £12,000 in various tranches from the complainant between August 30, 2002 and 2005.
Justice Akinlade, who found Ogundipe guilty on two counts count of stealing and unlawful conversion of property not delivered, sentenced him to one-year imprisonment on each count and ordered that he should pay the complainant the sum of N11m, which he obtained from her illegally.
After the judgement, Ogundipe through his counsel, Olanrewaju Ajanaku, filed a motion on notice for bail pending appeal.
He sought the order of the court to admit the applicant to bail unconditionally pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
Ogundipe, in a 16-paragraph affidavit sworn to by his counsel, noted that being diabetic, he could not follow a strict diet and constant specialized medical attention in the custodial centre, which had taken a toll on his health.
He further stated that before his incarceration, he was suffering from hypertension, peptic ulcer and unending malaria, which had worsen his health challenges since his conviction.
The Judge held that the convict did not prove any special circumstances that could persuade the court to grant his application, adding that the Court of Appeal Practice Direction, 2013 provided for a quick hearing of criminal matters.
Justice Akinlade dismissed the application which was brought pursuant to Section 6(6) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended paving way for the convict to continue serving his sentence at Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Apapa in Lagos State.
