APOSTLE SULEMAN, MISS OTOBO AND THE LIMITS OF GAMBLERS

By Barr. JOHNMARY C. JIDEOBI

It is rather gut-wrenching and mind-boggling to discover how low some people could descend for the devil in other to enlarge their bank account balance. Speaking for myself, allegations of breach of promise of marriage are issues for the civil courts to resolve. I am not aware that this lady, Miss Otobo, has approached any court to claim damages for the breach of the Apostle's promise to marry her. There is no other answer to the reason why she has not deemed it fit to toe that path marked by our laws.

It is because no evidence exists towards fortification or let alone establishment of such bogus claims. Being drained of the requisite oxygen to enjoy favourable admittance into the Temple of Justice, some persons, who unfortunately ought to know better than her, have disingenuously led her up the garden path. Indeed, initiating the relevant civil suit will take this matter away from the slippery realms of rumours, innuendos and finger-pointing to the solid pedestal of full-blown trial in an open court. Therein, all the parties will put their claims and counter-claims before the court. They will have the unbridled opportunity to go further and establish the veracity of their individual claims through the testimony of their witness who would be subjected to the merciless scrutiny and crucibles of cross-examination. Thereafter, the Court would have to review the evidence received, belief or disbelief different witnesses, weigh the evidence of contending parties on the imaginary scale, ascribe probative value to the evidence so received, make the necessary inferences and apply the laws to the case before it.

Having abandoned the acceptable mode of vindicating her rights in a civilized clime, in preference to unorthodox game of rough and tumble, the law of unintended consequences is now making an example of her. How it will all end remains to be seen. By the time this mis-adventurous dust settles, one of the hard lessons to be drawn inevitably by Miss Otobo and her confederates will include that there is certainly more to claiming 500 million Naira from Apostle Suleman than blowing up of sentiments and churning out uncoordinated razzmatazz.

It is only fools that "experience" teach as their best teacher. The wise ones are taught by "history" which is a compassionate teacher. Knowing fully well that our law courts are not casinos, those leading Miss Otobo have chosen different media platforms (where nowadays faceless charlatans hold sway) to play casino on the intelligence of undiscerning members of the public.

UNTIL THEN: HERE IS MY STATEMENT ON THIS MATTER

"I know that all we see today flying over and around the revered Apostle Suleman is a scene culled from a larger plot to discredit him by those who are yet to stomach the Apostle's uncommon courage. The dark forces behind the scene we are now witnessing, in their unholy bid to undo the Apostle, could go all out to enlist the services of even the devil himself with a view to permanently gagging the Apostle so that impunity in the land would continue to flourish unchallenged. There is no doubt that these dangerous forces of darkness, in high places, are acting with dark conscience, their intention being far from noble."

"My message for them is simple. Their plots are well-known but will be resisted by men of good will, including my humble self, who have whole heartedly put our legal services at the disposal of the Man of God at no cost to him. Evil must be opposed at all times. As no one man has the monopoly of legal arsenal to run riot in the system, we are hundred per cent standing firm behind the Man of God and very willing to match iron for iron in any kind of legal gymnastics. Those baying for this game of rough and tumble should be willing to carry to a logical end what they have started."
"We very much acknowledge the legitimate right of every citizen to seek legal remedy when and wherever there is a proven breach of his/her right(s). However, resorting to contumelious blackmail and mud-slinging against the revered Man of God without any justifiable legal reason to so do is way too far off tangent. That is a gamble being carried to a dangerous extreme.Our legal system is not a casino. Those fanning the embers of this ruinous charade should get ready to harvest their whirlwind in due course."