Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Omohowo Israel, 32, has been arraigned for allegedly generating Artificial Intelligence image of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and using same to advertise wrong drugs for illnesses on the Internet.
The suspect has been arrested and charged for cyber crime, identity theft and impersonation under the Criminal Laws of the Lagos State.
The suspect was arrested on 20th March at Ogba area of Lagos by the Police Intelligence Operatives from Area G Command, Ogba, following reports over the conduct of the suspect and others at large.
According to the police, members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God were astonished watching the General Overseer of the Church making an advert on the Internet and wondered what would have led to that.
The drug being promoted is known as Prosteron which the advert said cures terminal illnesses.
However, the information leaked that Adeboye did not consent to the advert but his image was illegally used to generate sales of the drugs through the Internet, hence the matter was reported to the police, who moved into action, trailed, eventually arrested and detained the suspect at the command for interrogation.
After thorough interrogation, the police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read: “That you, Omohowo Israel and others now at large on or before the 20th day of March, 2025 at about 1400hrs somewhere at Ogba, Lagos in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to Wit: Identity Theft and Impersonation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II: ”That you, Omohowo Israel and others now at large, on the same time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did unlawfully generate a defamatory and derogatory Artificial Intelligence (AI) image of Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, making an advert for the promotion of Prosteron Drug under pretence that it cures terminal illnesses, a presentation you know to be false, thereby circulating same on social media and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of the Cybercrime Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, then asked the court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The presiding chief magistrate, Mrs. O.Kusanu, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.