"We submit that slapping being an act of assault an item outside the provisions of Chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution and the African Charter, this court therefore lacks jurisdiction over same."

In a notice of preliminary objection filed at the High Court of Ogun State and made available to PREMIUM TIMES; Bishop Oyedepo maintained that he and his church are "non juristic persons" and therefore asked the court to strike out the suit as it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

Robert Igbinedion, a Lagos based lawyer, had in April, filed a suit on behalf of the young lady, who was slapped during a church service, for the enforcement of the lady's fundamental rights to freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment, human dignity, fair hearing, and freedom from discrimination.

Mr. Igbinedion prayed the court to award the sum of N2bn as 'general and exemplary damages' against the bishop as well as compel him to publish a public apology in two national dailies and one international satellite television.

In a counter affidavit deposed by Olugbenga Adegboye, the church's senior legal officer, Bishop Oyedepo stated that "his ministry is a ministry where the holy bible is preached and people are prayed for without coercion."

The church also said that there is no record of anyone called Miss Justice - a sobriquet given to the young lady for the purpose of the suit - in any of its services organized in the past.

A written address to support the preliminary objection signed by F. B Agbanwu, the church's Solicitor, insisted that the matter is not within the Nigeria constitution or the African Charter on Human and People's Rights.

Furthermore, the church urged the court to determine whether Mr. Igbinedion is capable of "bringing this kind of application" before it and whether "it is proper to bring this application against the 1st and 2nd respondents (Bishop Oyedepo and his church respectively).

Arguing that both Mr. Igbinedion and the respondents cannot sue and be sued, Bishop Oyedepo's lawyers noted that the cause of action must centre on clear infringement of a fundamental right.

"The cause of action or principal claim in this application centres merely on slapping one Miss Justice by the 1st respondent.

"The slapping of Miss Justice is an act that could be described as an assault which is a criminal offence punishable under the criminal code...

"We submit that slapping being an act of assault an item outside the provisions of Chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution and the African Charter, this court therefore lacks jurisdiction over same."

The court sits, June 1, for parties to adopt their motion before judgment is fixed.

In December last year, a YouTube video of Bishop Oyedepo viciously slapping a young lady who admitted that she was "a witch for Jesus" during an altar call went viral on the internet.

A second video that surfaced days later showed the bishop justifying his action adding that it is "his ministry to slap" and that "if he sees another witch, he'll slap."

Oyedepo Slaps-Giving: Court Urged To Dismiss Case

neksummi: I beg make them leave the man of God alone joor! They should look for money elsewhere.

neksummi: I beg make them leave the man of God alone joor! They should look for money elsewhere.

neksummi: I beg make them leave the man of God alone joor! They should look for money elsewhere.

neksummi: I beg make them leave the man of God alone joor! They should look for money elsewhere.

Michael Avede: Those dat hav ear let them hear dis, let no man lay a charge on God elet.u dat wanted to gurge now remba u wil be gurge also.if nt nw dat u ar livin it wil be after death. As 4 dus of u who knw hw to gosip men of God remba matt 5.10 said blessed ar those who men shal say any evil words against u .whome d lord has bless let no mao caurse.dat man Oyedipo is bless dan u all dat is againt him nor jorlosy u day here.

ACM10: Oyedepo should simply seek to settle out of court. The motive of this case iz clear. They wants to extract money from his organization. The slap iz innocuous, but the comment that followz it iz where the problem lies. I wonder how Oyedepo's attorneyz will be able to argue that case. Besides, there iz a damnin video evidence against him which iz even available on public domainz. His attorneyz are simply wastin their time with annoyin legal manoevres

Michael Avede: Those dat hav ear let them hear dis, let no man lay a charge on God elet.u dat wanted to gurge now remba u wil be gurge also.if nt nw dat u ar livin it wil be after death. As 4 dus of u who knw hw to gosip men of God remba matt 5.10 said blessed ar those who men shal say any evil words against u .whome d lord has bless let no mao caurse.dat man Oyedipo is bless dan u all dat is againt him nor jorlosy u day here.

4good: Many of you writing against the man of God know nothing about the things of the Spirit. The girl received a holy Ghost Inspired Reaction for lieing. Can't you all see what follows.

How can you sue your own Pastor?

And sense people are busy making sensible comments about issues not in the realm of senses. IF THE GIRL IS A CHURCH MEMBER IN-DEED SHE WOULD HAVE TOLD THE SON OF PERDITION (WHOSE PROFESSION WILL DEFINITELY MAKE HIM TO KNOW GOD IN THE HARD WAY), the Human right Lawyer, ( to mind his business.

It is simply a battle between the flesh and the spirit.

How I wish God will open your eyes and hearts and see spiritual things.

Greater is HE that is in US than he that is in the world. The Bishop has won the case already before the case was even brought to the court.

I know the Bishop never meant to ASSAULT that girl like many of us are emphasizing here. And his action of slapping is greatly in order. EXCEPT IF YOU CAN JUDGE GOD, THEN YOU CAN JUDGE HIS SERVANTS.

My advice to us all: Instead of snaring our destinies by our mouth comments we should watch the Living God defend Himself. I know the truth always triumph over falsehood come what may[b][/b]

4good: Many of you writing against the man of God know nothing about the things of the Spirit. The girl received a holy Ghost Inspired Reaction for lieing. Can't you all see what follows.

How can you sue your own Pastor?

And sense people are busy making sensible comments about issues not in the realm of senses. IF THE GIRL IS A CHURCH MEMBER IN-DEED SHE WOULD HAVE TOLD THE SON OF PERDITION (WHOSE PROFESSION WILL DEFINITELY MAKE HIM TO KNOW GOD IN THE HARD WAY), the Human right Lawyer, ( to mind his business.

It is simply a battle between the flesh and the spirit.

How I wish God will open your eyes and hearts and see spiritual things.

Greater is HE that is in US than he that is in the world. The Bishop has won the case already before the case was even brought to the court.

I know the Bishop never meant to ASSAULT that girl like many of us are emphasizing here. And his action of slapping is greatly in order. EXCEPT IF YOU CAN JUDGE GOD, THEN YOU CAN JUDGE HIS SERVANTS.

My advice to us all: Instead of snaring our destinies by our mouth comments we should watch the Living God defend Himself. I know the truth always triumph over falsehood come what may[b][/b]

Michael Avede: Those dat hav ear let them hear dis, let no man lay a charge on God elet.u dat wanted to gurge now remba u wil be gurge also.if nt nw dat u ar livin it wil be after death. As 4 dus of u who knw hw to gosip men of God remba matt 5.10 said blessed ar those who men shal say any evil words against u .whome d lord has bless let no mao caurse.dat man Oyedipo is bless dan u all dat is againt him nor jorlosy u day here.

14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,

Michael Avede: Touch not God anioted and do his prophet no harm.u people ar ingorant of d bible infact i dnt tink any lennet person can abuse men of God.how awhich d bible calld dem men of men dat means u as a man can gorge dem.but d bibld say day are men of God ar u God? If u ar nt den liv dem 4 God bvt if u ar God den contunin to gorge dem.

4good: Many of you writing against the man of God know nothing about the things of the Spirit. The girl received a holy Ghost Inspired Reaction for lieing. Can't you all see what follows.

How can you sue your own Pastor?

[b]And sense people are busy making sensible comments about issues not in the realm of senses. IF THE GIRL IS A CHURCH MEMBER IN-DEED SHE WOULD HAVE TOLD THE SON OF PERDITION (WHOSE PROFESSION WILL DEFINITELY MAKE HIM TO KNOW GOD IN THE HARD WAY), the Human right Lawyer, ( to mind his business.

It is simply a battle between the flesh and the spirit.

How I wish God will open your eyes and hearts and see spiritual things.

Greater is HE that is in US than he that is in the world. The Bishop has won the case already before the case was even brought to the court.

I know the Bishop never meant to ASSAULT that girl like many of us are emphasizing here. And his action of slapping is greatly in order. EXCEPT IF YOU CAN JUDGE GOD, THEN YOU CAN JUDGE HIS SERVANTS.

My advice to us all: Instead of snaring our destinies by our mouth comments we should watch the Living God defend Himself. I know the truth always triumph over falsehood come what may[/b]