Pastor Ezekiel Oduor has filed a request to stop his 30days detention.
The New Life Prayer Centre and Church pastor was arraigned before Shanzu Magistrate Court last Friday after he was accused of allegedly committing murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalization, genocide, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud and money laundering.
Moreover, the Director of Criminal Investigation filed an affidavit seeking to have the court deny pastor Ezekiel bail terms.
The DCI argued that the nature of the crimes under investigation by their nature, gravity and seriousness are complex.
In addition, pastor Ezekiel has also been associated with Paul Mackenzie the Malindi-based preacher linked to the Shakahola Massacre who is also currently in police custody.
Shanzu Magistrate Court reserved May 2 for the delivery of the ruling after listening to oral highlights of both parties
Furthermore, Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido, who is handling the case, is expected to make a ruling on Tuesday, May 2 on whether Ezekiel will be released or detained for another 30 days.
However, Pastor Ezekiel’s lawyers, Cliff Ombeta, Danstan Omari, Shadrack Wambui and Jared Magolo on Tuesday morning filed a new application to stop the delivery of its ruling.
The lawyers who also addressed the media on Tuesday morning outside the court asked for the chance to be heard again.
“We have filed an application which essentially seeks to arrest the ruling that is set to be delivered at 2 pm today,” Wambui said.
Also Read: Police Say Some of the Shakahola Bodies were Pastor Ezekiel’s Followers
“The gist of the application is that the DCI approached the court using an affidavit that make very wild and unsubstantiated allegations. So as a very good response to the allegations, we have equally put in an affidavit that seeks to respond blow by blow in every single issue that has been raised in the DCI affidavit.” He added.
Similarly, Pastor Ezekiel’s lawyers noted that the question as to whether there is ground to detain Odero is a question of law.
“Let us establish if there is enough ground to detain the pastor by words that have been put forward by lethargic investigators who have not even gone to the ground and interrogate the whole issue and are interested in wasting the courts time and taint the good reputation of the pastor.” Stated the lawyer.
Nonetheless, the notice of motion has been filed under a certificate of urgency.