Apostle Suleman Scandal Update: Stephanie Otobo Re-arraigned & Charged to Court

On Monday, the Nigerian police re-arraigned Stephanie Otobo, the 23-year-old woman who claimed she had an affair with the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleiman (read here).

She was docked at a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, alongside one Wisdom Godstime, 43,on a three-count charge of conspiracy, blackmail, threat to life and an intent to steal.

The police on March 6, according to The Nation, failed to obtain a remand order for the duo from the same court, following Magistrate Bukola-Ayeye’s ruling that there was insubstantial evidence to support the charge against them.

At the commencement of Monday’s proceedings, the prosecutor, M. A. Animashaun, said the defendants and others at large committed the alleged offence on February 14, 2016 at about 10:30 a.m. at Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.

He also alleged that they conspired amongst themselves to steal by demanding for property with menace and attempting to extort money.

Animashaun also stated that the defendants, ”with intent to blackmail a man of God, unlawfully demanded the immediate payment of $1million to Otobo by Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the president and founder of Omega Fire Ministry Worldwide, else she would call a press conference and accuse him of committing adultery with her and thereafter kill him.”

In addition, the court also heard that the defendants with intent to extort money from Suleiman, accused him of committing adultery with Otobo and also promising to marry her.

According to Animashaun, the offences were punishable under sections 411, 301 and 303 of the Criminal law of Lagos State, 2015. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In her ruling, the magistrate granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 each which they must deposit with the court’s registrar and two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till April 27 for trial.