Bishop Daniel Obinim
Bishop Daniel Obinim, founder of the International God’s Way Church, has been dragged before the Accra Domestic Violence and Gender-Based Court for flogging two supposed ‘fornicating’ teenagers during a live church service.
The controversial pastor is reported to have on August 17, this year at Ashaley Botwe in Accra, unlawfully and physically abused one Elliasu Obinim, 16 and Gyesiwaah Obinim, 14 – his (Obinim’s) adopted children – in front of the congregation.
Two others in the dock with ‘Angel’ Obinim are Pastors Kingsley Baah and Solomon Abraham.
The two have been slapped with abetting their senior pastor to abuse the two teenagers.
Hearing
Before the court, presided over by Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku, Bishop Obinim, who was in court with his lawyers, denied the offence.
The judge subsequently admitted the three to bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 each with one surety to be justified.
Proceedings were adjourned until November 24, 2016.
This was after Raphael Opoku Adusei, lawyer for the three, had asked the court to grant his clients bail.
He said the accused persons are popular men of God who have places of abode.
Mr Opoku Adusei stated that the charges preferred against the accused persons were a misdemeanor – an offence the court could grant them bail.
Prosecuting, DSP Abraham Annor said
the victims live with Bishop Obinim in his residence in Accra and that on the day of the incident, the Accra branch of the church had a service where he (Obinim) claimed that he had a revelation from God and that the two were engaged in pre-marital sex, resulting in Gyesiwaah becoming pregnant.
The police officer stated that Bishop Obinim further indicated that he was directed by the Holy Spirit to chastise them in front of the congregation and so subjected the two to serious beatings with his black leather belt in the full glare of the congregation.
Abetment
The prosecution stated that ‘Angel’ Obinim was assisted by Kingsley and Solomon.
He argued that Kingsley held the female victim and prevented her from running away while the Bishop continued beating her, adding that the girl in the process could not bear the pain and therefore, sought refuge with the wife of Obinim, Mrs. Florence Obinm, but he ordered the wife to stay aside, which she did.
DSP Annor contended that Solomon then brought back Gyesiwaah for his master to continue beating her.
He said Obinim, assisted by his two accomplices, continued to physically abuse the two church members till they were satisfied before releasing them.
The Narration
At the time of the incident and the subsequent brouhaha it generated, Joseph Osei Oppong Brenya, described as a media aide to Bishop Obinim, narrated the sequence of events from the church’s point of view as follows.
“The Founder and General Overseer of International God’s Way Church (IGWC), Bishop Dr. Daniel Obinim, had punished one of his adopted children for impregnating a young girl and terminating the pregnancy.
“Bishop Obinim exhibited his frustration as a father after it was revealed to him during prophecy time in church that one of his adopted children has impregnated a girl known as Gyesiwaah.
“The man of God could not take the news but called the two to the pulpit and disciplined them for that wrongful act. Both mothers of the accused persons were present during the church service which was broadcast live on OBTV.
“The gentleman, known as Elliasu, is said to have aided the termination of the pregnancy, an act which infuriated Bishop Obinim, hence his action. The Young girl nearly lost her life in the process of terminating the pregnancy.
“Elliasu lost his father at a tender age and has been under the care of Bishop Obinim among many others who are catered for by the popular man of God. All expenses, including education, are all taken care of by Bishop Obinim. Elliasu and Gyesiwaah, including their families are housed and catered for by Bishop Obinim. Bishop Obinim acted as a father and disciplined the two live in church to serve as deterrent to others.
“Bishop Obinim’s action was driven by the disappointment and melancholy a father will go through after detecting that his lovely and cherished son has impregnated the lady and terminated it.”
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
jeffdegraft44@yahoo.com