Convicted Genesis prophet released from prison

The Senior Shepherd-in-Charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global, Prophet Israel Ogundipe, has been released from prison.

Recall that, the popular priest was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, on November 18, by Justice Olabisi Akinlade, for converting a woman’s property to his personal use and stealing.

READ ALSO: “I will rather meet Bandit than President Buhari’ -Gumi

The court had found Ogundipe guilty of stealing and unlawful conversion of the property of a London-based architect, Mrs Oladele Williams-Oni.

However, the prophet was seen in a viral video posted by his church on Instagram, leading praise and worship, Today

When he entered the premises of the Church, the worshippers were joyous.

RNN reported that the Court of Appeal in Lagos has granted Ogundipe a post-conviction bail.

A three-man panel on April 1 granted Ogundipe bail on the ground of health conditions.

Meanwhile, Ogundipe, who was arraigned on seven counts bordering on obtaining by stealing, inducing delivery of money by false pretences, unlawful conversion of property and forgery, fraudulently collected N14m and £12,000 in various tranches from the complainant between August 30, 2002, and 2005.

Justice Akinlade, who found Ogundipe guilty on two counts count of stealing and unlawful conversion of property not delivered, sentenced him to one-year imprisonment on each count and ordered that he should pay the complainant the sum of N11m, which he obtained from her illegally.

Ogundipe, through his counsel, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), approached the appeal court for bail pending the hearing of the appeal and an application to quash the conviction.

Ogala argued the televangelist was diabetic, could no longer follow a strict diet and the constant specialised medical attention in custody, which had taken a toll on his health made him “gaunt in appearance.”

Delivering the ruling, Justice Abudullhai Bayero said, “There are criteria for granting a convict bail. These include that the applicant must be a first-time offender or have a serious health condition like hypertension, peptic ulcer, unending malaria, and diabetes.