BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
The acting President of Ekiti Baptist Conference, Reverend Olukayode Ayinde, has extricated himself from a social media report alleging one Rev. Dr. Olukayode Ayinde of being remanded in prison, in year 2020 on the account of defilement of a minor.
A social media platform had reported that Chief Magistrate I.T Olaolorun had remanded one Rev. Olukayode Ayinde, who was charged for rape of a 12-year-old girl (name withheld), in Ado Ekiti sometime in August, 2020 contrary to section 357 of the Criminal Code Cap. C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, a statement made available by Toba Adaramola, Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Baptist Conference, said that Ayinde had never been indicted nor remanded for any crime at any time.
The statement made available to The Point on Sunday by Adaramola read, “Our attention has been drawn to a news item in the social media with the title, ‘Cleric remanded for rape’ which was purportedly compiled by the Information/Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti State Judiciary.
In the said social media report, one Rev. Dr. Olukayode Ayinde (55) was ordered by the Chief Magistrate of a Court in Ado Ekiti to be remanded in Ado Ekiti Correctional Centre in August 2020.
“Ordinarily, we would have just ignored the said story but the various calls our revered pastor has been receiving from friends, church members and well-wishers prompted this response. We wish to state here that it was just a case of identical name; our pastor never had any court case not to talk of been remanded in any correctional centre.
“Rev. Olukayode Ayinde is a respected man of God who has been the acting Conference President of Ekiti Baptist Conference without any blemish. As a matter of fact, Reverend Olukayode Ayinde started his ministerial work as the Pastor of First Baptist Church, Ado Ekiti, in September 2004. He is respected by all because he values his integrity and ministerial calling.
“As of the time of writing this, Rev. Olukayode Ayinde was not up to 55 years of age so could not have been remanded in August 2020 at 55 years. He has a ministry to serve God, bring people to the saving hands of the most High God and to preach the good news of the Lord to the oppressed. We implore our good-hearted people to ignore the malicious and scandalous release. It was just a wishful thought from the pit of hell and will never be the portion of our pastor in Jesus name,” it read.
