By Cynthia Eruotor
The Magistrates’ Court sitting in Asaba, the state capital, has adjourned to November 7, 2025, the criminal trial of Pastor Sunday Ogbogho of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), who is standing prosecution to have allegedly assaulted a Journalist, Kenneth, Orusi with tools including spanner.
Pastor Ogbogho was arraigned before Magistrate Court 4, Asaba, on August 11, 2025, over his attack on Kenneth Orusi at No. 5 Elder Ediale Street, off Ibusa Road, Asaba, inflicting head injuries including teeth bite on July 27, 2025.The Case which is filled under Case File No.367/2025 has Mr Alex Ibe appearing as police prosecutor.
The charge, read in open court, accuses Pastor Ogbogho to have committed an offence contrary to Section 355 of the Criminal Code, which prescribes punishment for assault that results into harm. The RCCG Cleric, however, pleaded not guilty.
Defence counsel, known as Chris, told the Court that Ogbogho is a landlord in Asaba and presented a surety, Engineer Pastor Edih Commissioner, who serves as Director of Operations at the Delta State Direct Labour Agency (DLA).
But the Magistrate expressed reservations about accepting sureties from field officers in government agencies saying that, it is difficult to trace such officials if the defendant jumps bail. His words:” When you take someone on bail, you are telling the Court, you will ensure, they attend trial until the case is disposed off. We have had cases where sureties vanish when defendants abscond”.
However, despite the reservations, the Court granted bail to Pastor Ogbogho in the sum of ₦500,000 with one surety in like sum. The Court directed that the surety must be a civil servant of at least Grade Level 12 and provide a valid ID, appointment and promotion letters, a current pay slip, sworn affidavit, and must also undergo residence verification by both the court and police officers.
The Magistrate reminded and warned sternly that, on no account should Court staff, lawyers or middlemen who may claim influence over judicial proceedings, be bribed as “Justice is not for sale”. The matter which was initially fixed for August 25, 2025 has been adjourned to 7th November, 2025 for further hearing as a result of the absence of the Police Prosecutor, Alex Ibe.