Pastor arraigned over death of two siblings during spiritual deliverance

A pastor, David Oshoffa of the Celestial Church of Christ, Alpha and Omega Ashipa Parish 4, has been arraigned at the Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, over the death of two siblings.

Oshoffa, who was arraigned on three counts bordering on murder, was remanded on Wednesday by Magistrate Patrick Nwaka at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

The siblings; Michael and Mahoklo Agbah who lived around the Seme Border, in the Badagry area of Lagos State, were allegedly taken to the cleric’s parish for spiritual deliverance when he alongside two fleeing accomplices allegedly poisoned them.

The prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the defendant did not only prepare the killer concoction using deadly chemicals which he knew were harmful to the children but gave them to drink in the name of dispossessing them of an evil spirit.

The prosecutor said Oshoffa committed the offence on June 18, 2023, at his church’s premises, adding that the offence contravened Section 222 and was punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The charge read in part, “That you, David Oshoffa, and two others at large, on June 18, 2023, at Celestial Church of Christ, Alpha and Omega, Ashipa Parish 4, Seme Border, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Michael Agba, 12, Mahoklo Agbah, 8, by poisoning them with a concoction containing black soap and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 222 and punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”

Oshoffa’s plea was not taken.

The prosecutor prayed the court to remand the defendant pending the outcome of the legal advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Magistrate Nwaka ordered the remand of the defendant to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till August 4, 2023.