Bishop Daniel Obinim
The police have not received the results of a forensic test on the signatures of Bishop Daniel Obinim, founder of International God’s Way Church.
An Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku, ordered Obinim to give out samples of his signature for experts to compare them with that on the police caution statement.
The order was at the request of DSP George Amega after a dispute between the police and Obinim, who is before the court on assault charges, over the authenticity of the police caution statement.
Appearing before the court yesterday, the prosecution, led by DSP Amega, told the court that the report is not yet ready, as they have not been able to gather all the signatures needed for examination.
He told the court that they do not have the rest of the signatures from the court’s registry.
He subsequently prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable them carry out the test.
Bishop Obinim, together with two of his pastors, has been put before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly assaulting his adopted children- a 14-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy in the presence of his congregation.
The main trial has been put on hold as the court embarks on a mini trial to determine the authenticity of the caution statement.
Although the prosecution, led by DSP George Amega, maintained that the pastor signed the statement, Obinim denied the allegation.
Obinim said that he gave a caution statement to the police at the Tema Police Station, but the one presented to court by the prosecution does not bear his signature.
Under cross-examination by DSP Amega, he told the court that although he does not remember the content of the statement he gave to the police in Twi which was recorded by the case investigator in English, he only signed a statement which was also signed by his lawyer, administrator of the church and Kingsley Baah, another accused person.
The prosecutor put it to him that lawyers do not sign caution statements of clients.
Subsequently, DSP Amega prayed the court for an order for the signatures of Bishop Obinim to be taken to the forensic lab for examination.
His lawyer did not object to the request by the prosecution and the court, presided over by Her Honour Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku, ordered Obinim to do so.
By Gibril Abdul Razak