Bishop Oyedepo Denies Slapping Church Member, Says HeCannot Be Sued

"We submit that slapping being an act of assault an item
outside the provisions of Chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution
and the African Charter, this court therefore lacks
jurisdiction over same."
The multi billionaire founder of the Living Faith Christian
Church International, Bishop David Oyedepo, has denied
slapping a young member of his congregation; stating that
neither he nor his church could be sued.
In a notice of preliminary objection filed at the High Court
of Ogun State and made available to PREMIUM TIMES;
Bishop Oyedepo maintained that he and his church are
"non juristic persons" and therefore asked the court to strike
out the suit as it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the
matter.
Robert Igbinedion, a Lagos based lawyer, had in April,
filed a suit on behalf of the young lady, who was slapped
during a church service, for the enforcement of the lady's
fundamental rights to freedom from inhuman and
degrading treatment, human dignity, fair hearing, and
freedom from discrimination.
Mr. Igbinedion prayed the court to award the sum of N2bn
as 'general and exemplary damages' against the bishop
as well as compel him to publish a public apology in two
national dailies and one international satellite television.
In a counter affidavit deposed by Olugbenga Adegboye,
the church's senior legal officer, Bishop Oyedepo stated
that "his ministry is a ministry where the holy bible is
preached and people are prayed for without coercion."
The church also said that there is no record of anyone called
Miss Justice - a sobriquet given to the young lady for the
purpose of the suit - in any of its services organized in the
past.
A written address to support the preliminary objection
signed by F. B Agbanwu, the church's Solicitor, insisted that
the matter is not within the Nigeria constitution or the
African Charter on Human and People's Rights.
Furthermore, the church urged the court to determine
whether Mr. Igbinedion is capable of "bringing this kind of
application" before it and whether "it is proper to bring this
application against the 1st and 2nd respondents (Bishop
Oyedepo and his church respectively).
Arguing that both Mr. Igbinedion and the respondents
cannot sue and be sued, Bishop Oyedepo's lawyers noted
that the cause of action must centre on clear infringement of
a fundamental right.
"The cause of action or principal claim in this application
centres merely on slapping one Miss Justice by the 1st
respondent.
"The slapping of Miss Justice is an act that could be
described as an assault which is a criminal offence
punishable under the criminal code...
"We submit that slapping being an act of assault an item
outside the provisions of Chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution
and the African Charter, this court therefore lacks
jurisdiction over same."
The court sits, June 1, for parties to adopt their motion
before judgment is fixed.
In December last year, a YouTube video of Bishop
Oyedepo viciously slapping a young lady who admitted
that she was "a witch for Jesus" during an altar call went
viral on the internet.
A second video that surfaced days later showed the bishop
justifying his action adding that it is "his ministry to slap"
and that "if he sees another witch, he'll slap."