From the beginning of the case it was almost obvious that this matter was filled out of sentiments and not for the sole purpose of seeking justice for a little girl that was "lapped" by a man of God old enough to be her father or even grand father.
Olufamous.com gathered that the case came up at the Ogun State High Court on Thursday and Justice Ojo looked at the submission of both counsels before delivering judgement.
Olufamous.com gathered that the case came up at the Ogun State High Court on Thursday and Justice Ojo looked at the submission of both counsels before delivering judgement.
The judge concluded that the application lacks merit as the slapped girl remains "a ghost victim". Consequently, he struck out the N2billion suit slammed on the founder of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, for "slapping" a young lady during a church service in 2009.
Robert Igbinedion, a Lagos based lawyer who filed the suit on behalf of the young lady, had asked the court to award N2billion as 'general and exemplary damages' against the Bishop.
However, during the hearing of the case, Dele Adesina, counsel to Bishop Oyedepo, had complained to the court that they did not have a photograph and the video where the Bishop slapped the young lady.
Mr. Adesina had argued that there was nothing to show that the young lady who was slapped in the video – who had been dubbed ‘Miss Justice’ in the course of the suit - is a living person.
“We humbly submit that ‘Miss Justice’ is a fictitious person, not capable of being represented in court. For the applicant to establish that he is suing on behalf of another person, that person must be determinable and identifiable,” Oyedepo's counsel added.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ojo struck out the case, saying the application lacked merit on many grounds. He awarded a N20,000 cost against the applicant.
Robert Igbinedion, a Lagos based lawyer who filed the suit on behalf of the young lady, had asked the court to award N2billion as 'general and exemplary damages' against the Bishop.
However, during the hearing of the case, Dele Adesina, counsel to Bishop Oyedepo, had complained to the court that they did not have a photograph and the video where the Bishop slapped the young lady.
Mr. Adesina had argued that there was nothing to show that the young lady who was slapped in the video – who had been dubbed ‘Miss Justice’ in the course of the suit - is a living person.
“We humbly submit that ‘Miss Justice’ is a fictitious person, not capable of being represented in court. For the applicant to establish that he is suing on behalf of another person, that person must be determinable and identifiable,” Oyedepo's counsel added.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ojo struck out the case, saying the application lacked merit on many grounds. He awarded a N20,000 cost against the applicant.
