Bishop Daniel Obinim in Handcuffs
Daily Guide – Bishop Daniel Obinim, the leader of God’s Way International Ministry, was yesterday re-arrested immediately after an Accra Circuit Court had discharged him.
Bishop Obinim was facing seven charges including use of offensive weapon and causing harm at the court presided over by Audrey-Korcuvie Tay.
The court discharged Obinim and two of his associate pastors, Kingsley Baah and Kofi Akwettey, who were being tried for allegedly assaulting two journalists at an Accra-based radio station, Hot FM, following an application by the Attorney-General to discontinue the matter.
A state attorney, Rita Doku, when the case was called, announced that they had filed a nolle-prosequi to discontinue the case.
Without giving any reason for ending the over two-year trial at the circuit court, Ms Doku however hinted that the three would be sent to the High Court to face trial there.
Just after the accused persons stepped out of the courtroom, they were re-arrested, ushered into a waiting vehicle and sent to the Adabraka Police Station where they were expected to be given a fresh police enquiry bail.
The case was originally lodged before the Adabraka Police before the suspects were processed for court.
The Bishop and his associates were jointly facing five charges of conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful entry, causing damage to private property and assault. Obinim had two additional counts of the use of offensive weapon and causing unlawful harm.
They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges and were on a GH¢50,000 with two sureties.
The prosecution, before discontinuing the case, had called in three witnesses including Paul Kwame Ntim Okatakyie, the host of ‘Nya Asem Hwe,’ an Akan programme on the station, and Frank Boateng Danso.
In the course of the trial, his lawyer hinted that Obinim wanted an out-of court settlement and further disclosed to the court that there were some negotiations going on behind the scenes to get the matter resolved amicably. However that arrangement could not materialize.
According to the prosecutor, the damages caused by the accused persons to the equipment at Hot FM studios were estimated at GH¢130,850.
The items destroyed included a voice processor, Telos Hybria, two CD players, head phone distributor, telephone sets, laptops and electro voice microphone among others.
The accused persons, according to the prosecutor, on Monday August 8, 2011, stormed the studios of Hot FM and attacked Paul Kwame Ntim Okatakyie, the host of ‘Nya Asem Hwe,’ and another panelist, Shadrach Adu.
One of the topics being discussed at that time was the alleged sex scandal involving Bishop Obinim. In the course of the discussion, his alleged tape recording about the issue was played on air and issues about his wife and his pastors were also discussed.
Bishop Obinim and his accomplices, who were offended by the said discussion, allegedly stormed the Adabraka-based radio station with a crow-bar and sticks. He allegedly attacked the staff, vandalized studio equipment, and inflicted injuries on the host and other panelists including Rev William Amoako-Atta.
