Pastor arrested for allegedly calling gospel artist a prostitute

In court on Thursday, Osun State priest Apostle Niyi Peter was accused of defaming gospel musician Bunmi Akinnaanu, also known as Omije Ojumi, on social media. Pastor from Osun is accused of calling gospel singer Bunmi Akinnaanu. 

After reportedly posting a photo of the singer online and calling her music a “prostitute song,” a prostitute named Peter was accused of three crimes, which infuriated the singer's fans and fellow musicians. 

The court heard at the hearing before Magistrate Dr. Olusegun Ayilara that Peter had harmed Akinnaanu's reputation by posting a defamatory message on WhatsApp in April 2024.

The charge reads, “You, Apostle Niyi Peter, male, in the month of April 2024, at about 12:00 pm at Oke-Odo Area, Osogbo, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did defame the character of one Bunmi Akinnaanu, a.k.a. Omije Ojumi, by posting her picture and tagging it ‘prostitute song’ on social media via your WhatsApp number.”

Apostle Niyi Peter was also accused of sending a threatening voice message to Bunmi Akinnaanu, telling her she “would perish and never rise again.”

The allegations went on to say that by disseminating untrue and negative information about the gospel singer, Peter's acts were likely to disturb the peace in the community.

“You, Apostle Niyi Peter, on the same date, time, and place, conducted yourself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by falsely damaging the character of Bunmi Akinnaanu, a.k.a. Omije Ojumi,” it reads.

Sections 373, 88, and 249(D) of the Osun State 2002 Criminal Code are broken by the cleric's activities. However, Peter refuted the accusations, and his attorney, Mr. Okobe Najite, asked to be released on bond. 

Judge Ayilara imposed a bail of N1 million and stipulated that two sureties have to be employed by the government. The matter is scheduled to proceed on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

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