An Accra Circuit Court presided over by Her Honour, Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku, is holding a mini trial to ascertain the authenticity of Bishop Obinim’s statement to the police.
This was after Bishop Daniel Obinim, Founder of the International God’s Way Church, denied that the signature on the purported statement was his during the main trial where he has been charged with assault after he flogged two of his church members in the church.
In opening his defence in the mini trial led by his counsel, Bishop Obinim was shown his purported statement to the Police, and he said that the signature on the purported statement was not his.
During cross examination, the founder of the International God’s Way Church said that he was not arrested by the Police, but he visited the police upon an invitation letter sent to him by the Police.
He admitted that his statement was taken by one Detective Corporal Emmanuella Agbanyo.
According to Bishop Daniel Obinim, his lawyer, signed the statement that he wrote.
The Prosecutor, DSP George Amegah put it to the Accused that no lawyer signs an investigation caution statement or charge sheet, and the Accused replied saying “I have heard”.
The Prosecutor prayed the Court for an order to submit the signature of Bishop Obinim for forensic analysis at the CID Headquarters.
The Court ordered that the Accused should give sample evidence of his signature to be sent to the Forensic Laboratory at the CIDHeadquarters for analysis.
The mini trial has been adjourned to 12th September, 2018.
He added that when he was being questioned and his statement being written, his lawyer, his associate pastor and his church administrator were present.
When asked how many statements he had given to the police, Bishop Daniel Obinim said that he gave one statement to the police.
Source: GhanaJustice/F.Kyeremateng
