by Rachel Ogbu

Household of God’s former pianist, Dafiaghor Okiotor has appeared before a court in Lagos again, this time for breaching the peace and disorderly conduct.

On Tuesday, the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, presided by Magistrate Oshodi Makanjuola heard how 40-year-old Okiotor, first demonstrated at Rev. Chris Okotie’s church on July 15 claiming to be owed N39 million as payment for work done in the church over a 14 year period.

According to reports, Okiotor, who just like Okotie is Urhobo was jailed for about three weeks but reportedly returned to the church to stage another protest.

Adeolu Omotayo and Harold Turay, members and guards of the church, testified against him in court. Omotayo said Okiotor had sent two letters threatening to disrupt the church, reports claim.

“He made good his threats on that Sunday as he suddenly appeared and became disorderly and raucous at the church entrance. He sang songs in his native language. The reverend had to stop sermonising, and the service was stopped. We called the policemen at Area ‘F’, and they arrested him.”

“But on the evening of that same day, Okiotor came back to the church. He was arrested again and later charged to court,” Omotayo said.

Turay, said, “When Okiotor protested at the church, he wore a white T-shirt. Inscribed on it was, ‘Rev. Okotie, you either pay me, or kill me. He was so disorderly and noisy that he disrupted the service.”

The Punch reports:

At the start of Tuesday’s hearing, counsels to the complainant (Okotie) requested that journalists should be sent out from the court.

However, the defendant’s lawyer, Mr. Robert Igbinedion, argued that the court was a public place and that court proceedings should be public knowledge.

Makanjuola declined Okotie’s lawyers request.

During a cross examination by Igbinedion, Omotayo said Okiotor was a volunteer at the church and was not entitled to remuneration.

Makanjuola adjourned the case till April 26, 2013.