A Magistrate Court in Jalingo on Wednesday docked Mr. Samuel Ande, the Pastor of Church of Christ Deliverance Ministry for criminal conspiracy and trespass on property belonging to another person.Mr Bright Danfulani Suntai, niece to the former Taraba state governor late Danbaba Suntai is believed to have inherited piece of land from his late father, Babangida Suntai.
The accused and two others are alleged to have conspired to sell a property belonging to Suntai under the pretext that the said property was bequeathed to his Church by the father of the defendant.
Counsel to the defendants Barr. C.C. Ichele told journalists that the accused had earlier put the property on sale. He said that after the death of the owner of the property and father of his client, the accused claimed that the late father had given him the property which is located in Jalingo.
Ichele argued that no member of the family was aware of the said transaction and the family is still and in custody of the documents relating to the property. According to him, the accused could not present any prove that the said property was bequeathed to him.
Ichele lamented that “the attempt by the accused to forcefully take over and dispose of a property belonging to one of his Church members who is now late is highly unbecoming of a religious leader”, . He urged him to “rethink his actions as they speak volumes about his person and the ministry he represents.”
Barr. Mathew Kentishe, counsel to the defendant insisted that his client had received the property in question from the late Mr. Babangida Suntai. Kwentishe regretted why he was now standing trial for criminal conspiracy in a gift he received in good faith from one of his Church members.
The presiding judge Mulumba Barnabas, of Magistrate Court 2 Jalingo, listen to the case by the defense to decide if there was a prema facie case against the accused. Barnabas adjourned the case for Aug. 30 for further hearing
