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Tag: Deeper Life

  • How Deeper Life pastor emerged paramount ruler of Idoma People

    How Deeper Life pastor emerged paramount ruler of Idoma People

    A clergy of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor John Elaigwu Odogbo on Thursday emerged as the new paramount traditional ruler of Idoma people in Benue State.

    This development was sequel to the recent search embarked on by the Ochi’Idoma IV, Dr Elias Ikoyi Obekpa in October this year and the directive by Governor Samuel Ortom for the selection of a new Ochi’Idoma on December 30, 2021.

    Odogbo was said to have emerged with 19 votes out of total 28 votes cast in a keen contest at Otukpo.

    Among the contestants were federal permanent secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, who scored eight votes, and Andrew Idakwu, who left with only one vote.

    Presenting the new Ochi’Idoma to Ortom at the Government House in Makurdi, supervising Commissioner of Information, Ekpe Ogbu, who is head of the selection team, said the exercise was conducted peacefully with the outcome of Pastor Odogbo as Och’Idoma elect.

    Ogbu explained that out of a total 32 expected members of the selection committee, 28 were present, two have impending court cases and one indisposed health wise.
    He added that five people had indicated interest to contest for the seat, noting that one voluntarily stepped down.

    The commissioner further stated that one among the remaining four contestants was not nominated and left the venue, leaving three finalists.

    Speaking, the Ochi’Idoma elect said he saw the involvement of God in the entire exercise even as he thanked the governor for his leadership.
    The new royal father likened Ortom to the biblical Samuel who became the advocate of Israel who united the people together just as he assured that he would not disappoint the confidence reposed in him by the Idoma people.

    Responding, Governor Samuel Ortom, hailed the Idoma nation for the selection of their new monarch, adding that he had always stood for equity, transparency and justice.

    He said that appointment belongs to God who chooses one and anoints such person to do His will.

    “We will find a convenient day to do the coronation. I want the contribution of the traditional rulers to my administration,” Ortom said.

    The new Ochi’Idoma was born on March 27, 1969 to the family of Elaigwu Ekoja as the fifth child in Obagaji, the headquarters of Agatu Local Government Area of the state.

    He is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1994) with degree in Accounting and currently studying for his doctorate degree.

  • Don’t be discouraged, all will be well —Kumuyi tells Nigerians

    Don’t be discouraged, all will be well —Kumuyi tells Nigerians

    The General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has urged the body of Christ not to be discouraged by the challenges confronting the country, adding all will be well.

    He noted that God would bring in more people that would be profitable and beneficial to the well-being of Nigerians

    Kumuyi said this on Wednesday while fielding questions from journalists at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State shortly after he arrived for a five-day-global crusade with the theme ‘The wonders of the cross.’

    “We will keep on preaching the gospel believing that God shows His love to everyone, both good, bad and ugly and bring in more people that will be profitable for the country,” he said.

    The Deeper Life Superintendent, who has been going around the country for the global crusade, explained that he was spurred to embark on the crusade to exalt Christ for what he has done for humanity as well as remind the people of the second coming of Christ so that they would be ready at all times.

    He said, “What I want to achieve in the global crusade is to let the people know that this is what the cross of Christ implies and the benefits you were to receive as a result of what Christ has done.

    “We have been taking the global crusade from city to city all over Nigeria and the Lord has touched many lives in different parts of the world. Actually, we transmit the crusade virtually to every country of the world.”

    Commenting on the rate of evil in the nation despite increased gospel preaching, Kumuyi regretted that much attention and prominence have been given to evil activity especially in this internet era, noting that there are more people living quiet, normal and profitable lives who may not have been known.

    His words, “I’m sure you know that when one person does evil in a way that he probably uses the internet to do that evil, it is more pronounced than when 100 people are living good, normal, quiet and profitable life for themselves and the country.

    “The truth is that we seem to highlight the evil that the few people are doing. But we will keep on preaching the gospel believing that God shows His love to everyone, both good, bad and ugly.

    “We may not totally stamp out evil completely for every country but we pray that more good people arise and that things will be better for every country particularly Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State.”

    He said the global crusade has so far impacted lives and produced tangible results where lives were being saved.

    He however urged the people to look inwards and see how to make meaning out of their lives even as Jesus tarries.

    The Akwa Ibom State Executives led by the Head of Service, Elder Effiong Essien was on the ground to receive the General Superintendent, wife and other ministers in his entourage.

     

     

  • Why RCCG, Deeper Life won’t stop use of Twitter despite FG’s ban – Pastors Adeboye, Kumuyi speak

    Why RCCG, Deeper Life won’t stop use of Twitter despite FG’s ban – Pastors Adeboye, Kumuyi speak

    Top Nigerian clerics, Pastors Enoch Adeboye (General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG) and William Kumuyi (General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church) have given reasons why their churches will continue using popular micro blogging and social networking service, Twitter despite a subsisting ban by the Federal Government.

    Adeboye and Kumuyi said tweets by their churches are in accordance with the United Nations declaration on human rights, irrespective of the suspension of Twitter operations by the federal government.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the federal government though the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed had announced the “indefinite” suspension in a statement last week by his spokesman Segun Adeyemi.

    Adeboye, while reacting to allegations of flouting FG’s order in a terse statement, said: “The Redeemed Christian Church of God is domiciled in more than 170 Nations & Territories. The tweets here are in accordance to Article 19 of the UN universal declaration of Human Rights.”

    In a similar reaction, Kumuyi via his official twitter handle @pastorwf_Kumuyi said: “In view of the Twitter ban in Nigeria, please note that the content shared on this handle is targeted at a global audience in more than 5 continents and over 100 nations and we share the content from any of this locations”.

  • Deeper Life School saga: Court orders mother of ‘assaulted’ boy to stop comments on social media

    Deeper Life School saga: Court orders mother of ‘assaulted’ boy to stop comments on social media

    The Magistrate Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state has reiterated its warning to Mrs. Deborah Archibong, mother of the ‘assaulted’ Deeper Life High School boy that she should desist from making comments or posting any material on the issue on social media.

    Recall that the Akwa Ibom State Police Command had two weeks ago arraigned seven persons, including minors in connection with the alleged sexual molestation and maltreatment of one Don-Davis Archibong, a student of DLHS, Uyo.

    They were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit Felony to wit: indecent treatment of boys under fourteen and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 556 of the criminal code, cap.38, Vol.2. Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000.

    The minors were charged for unlawfully assaulting Don-Davies Archibong punishable under section 218(1) of the Criminal code, cap.38, vol.2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000, including section 362(1) of the Laws of Akwa Ibom State.

    But at the first appearance in Court on January 6, 2021 the Plaintiff, Mrs Deborah Archibong was warned against making social media comments on the issue since it was in the Court, her lawyer, Mr. David Okokon told reporters after the court sitting on Wednesday.

    Before now, Deborah’s video clips were seen on social media making several accusations over the alleged abuse of her son, Don-Davies Archibong.

    In the same vein, journalists were on Wednesday barred from covering the proceeding on the ongoing Deeper Life School crisis as the court held under close door.

    The Secretary of the Court, whose name could not be ascertained at press time, said since the matter was a juvenile case, nobody would be accepted to participate in the proceedings except the parties involved in the matter.

    Speaking with the Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. David Okokon, shortly after proceedings, said, the court followed the standard of proceedings obtainable globally in the juvenile case, adding that it was the reason journalists were not allowed to participate.

    Okokon explained that the mother to the molested boy only gave her part of the story equivalent to what she had told the press, adding that the court later admitted her statement to the police as evidence.

    “Procedurally, since it was a juvenile court journalists were not allowed to observe the proceedings. A juvenile court deserves a jurisprudencial privacy it has.

    ”Why the court did this was because, the court knows that the press has every power to get the information from the lawyers, which I am here with you.

    “Ordinarily, the court had warned that parties should not address press because they want to allow the proceedings to be in the walls of the court in its merit, so that lawyers would not talk in and out of the matter and then confuse the public.

    “In terms of the proceedings, it was a normal trial and legal proceedings were carried out. The mother to the molested boy opened the floor and the told her story which was carried by the press. But the only difference is that this time she is in the court but there is no discrepancy in what she said earlier, and her statement to the police was admitted as her evidence,”he said.

    Also speaking, the Counsel to the defendant, Barr.Nojin Tairu, said; “by standard like this, when you have started a proceedings, you are not allowed to be making comments about the nitty-gritty of the matter.

    ”But I need to explain this to you so that we do not run foul of what is the standard practice everywhere in the world. At the end of the proceedings you will have all the fact and all that transpired in the Court.

    “The matter is subjudice it would not be so decent to be hearing other version of the matter.

    “The public’s right to know what happened in court is circumscribed by the practice procedure of the Court. It is pertinent to that this a special court proceedings involving child’s right procedure for trial. That was the reason why all person including men of the fourth realm were asked to leave the court premises.

    “This is actually a juvenile court, and the law and the court is weary of exposing some things that may have harmful effect on the children involved.

    ”There are three children in this matter, we need to be careful and sensitive. I can assure you that at the end the proceedings journalists would have the whole revelation regarding the matter,” he added.

    However, the case was adjourned to February 10, 2021 for continuation of hearing.

  • Deeper Life holds special prayers as police confirm kidnap of varsity’s deputy VC

    Deeper Life holds special prayers as police confirm kidnap of varsity’s deputy VC

    Leaders of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry are praying for the quick and safe release of Professor Johnson Fatokun, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Anchor University, Lagos, owned by the church.

    This is just as the leadership of the church and the management of the university are making necessary contacts with Fatokun’s abductors.

    Meanwhile, the Nasarawa Police Command has confirmed the kidnap of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Anchor University, Professor Fatokun Johnson.

    The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Ramhan Nansel disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

    He said that the command received a complaint from one Umazayi Emmanuel while on transit from Jos to Keffi on Tuesday.

    According to him, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers attacked him and his boss Prof. Fatokun Johnson along Kurmi Shinkafa village, Kokona Local Government Area, and abducted the Professor to an unknown destination.

    The Police command PRO stated that upon receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe (PSC) mobilised a search and rescue team comprising of the Police Mobile Force, Anti Kidnapping personnel, Military, Police patrol teams, vigilante and Local hunters to the area for the rescue of the abducted victim and arrest of the perpetrators of the act.

    While commiserating with the family of the abducted victim, the Commissioner of Police also assured that an unrelenting manhunt of the hoodlums has commenced and measures have been put in place to forestall future occurrences.

    He (Commissioner of Police) called on members of the public to assist the Police with useful information that will lead to the rescue of the victim and arrest of the perpetrators of the crime.

  • Molestation saga: Court grants bail to Deeper Life High School principal, six others

    Molestation saga: Court grants bail to Deeper Life High School principal, six others

    The Magistrate’s Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State capital has granted the Principal of Deeper Life High School Uyo and six others bail in the sum of N500,000 each.

    Also, two minors who were involved in the case of alleged sexual abuse and molestation of an eleven-year-old student of the school were released to their parents.

    The school’s principal, Mrs. Ndidi Solomon, and others including Joseph Nseabasi, Akpan Johnson, Egor Wilson, Joseph Ikenna were arraigned on Thursday at the Magistrate’s Court in connection with the case.

    When the case was read, counsel to the accused applied for bail for them, noting that the alleged offence is bailable.

    The Magistrate in charge of the Court then granted all the accused person bail in the sum of N500,000 each while the two minors among them were released to their parents.

    The case was then adjourned to 20th January 2021 for an accelerated hearing.

    Speaking to journalists at the court premises, counsel to the petitioner, David Okokon said he is committed to ensuring that justice is served.

    Counsel to the accused persons, however, declined comments on the case.

    The presiding Magistrate warned all parties involved in the case to avoid unguarded media comments that could negatively affect the court process.

    The accused persons are facing four charges bordering on sexual molestation, maltreatment, starvation, and negligence.

    Channels Television correspondent present at the proceedings was prevented from taking visuals of the accused persons.

  • Deeper Life assures Nigerians transpareny on handling of schoolboy molestation case

    Deeper Life assures Nigerians transpareny on handling of schoolboy molestation case

    The Deeper Life High School, Akwa Ibom State has said the school will not attempt to cover up any immoral act under any guise, following alleged molestation of a school boy at the school.

    In a viral video, a mother, Mrs Deborah Okezie had raised the alarm over alleged molestation of her child, Don Davies by some senior students of the school.

    However, the Education Secretary of Deeper Life High School, Mrs Thelma Malaka, reminded the public that the Office of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State had taken over the investigation of the matter to ensure neutrality and a dispassionate outcome.

    She commended the concerted efforts of everyone who had shown support in the investigation thus far, reiterating that the school would be transparent and that justice would not only be served, it would be seen by all that it had been served.

    “Recall that we had earlier suspended the principal of the affected campus and initiated an investigation into the matter. We decided to restrain ourselves from further comments after the first update because we thought it is sub-judice to comment on a matter currently under investigation.

    “However, considering the potential impact of this issue, especially on what we stand for, we are compelled to provide an earlier update before the final report by the government,” she said.

    According to her, the panel had sat and that the school had presented staff members and students who have been mentioned in this particular case all through the period of the investigation.

    “We believe that the government will share the final report once the investigation is concluded. Deeper Life High School stands on the core value of integrity and uprightness and will not attempt to cover up any immoral act under any guise,” she said.

    Malaka enjoined the public to be on the look out for the final report as it would be released by the appropriate authority soon.

    She said the school believed that the government would share the final report once the investigation is completed.

  • #JusticeForDonDavis: Pastor Kumuyi under attack over boy abused in Deeper Life school

    #JusticeForDonDavis: Pastor Kumuyi under attack over boy abused in Deeper Life school

    The general superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church Pastor William Kumuyi is presently under fire on social media over the alleged abuse of an 11-year-old pupil of Deeper Life High School in Akwa Ibom State.

    Recall a parent, Deborah Okezie whose son is a junior secondary school one student had in a Facebook video alleged that her son Don Davis was starved, as well as molested by some senior pupils of the school.

    The school management has suspended the principal Solomon Ndidi to allow seamless investigation while Akwa Ibom State Government has also waded in.

    However, Nigerians on Twitter on Monday called for action from Kumuyi, urging him to address the matter personally in the light of the church’s reputation.

    Reactions from netizens:

  • Deeper Life school suspends principal over ‘child molestation’ incident

    Deeper Life school suspends principal over ‘child molestation’ incident

    The management of the Deeper Life High School in Akwa Ibom state has suspended Solomon Ndidi, the principal of the institution, over allegations involving molestation of a student.

    Deborah Okezie, a woman whose son is a JSS1 pupil at the Christian school, had shared a video on her Facebook account wherein she alleged that her son was starved and molested by some senior pupils of the school.

    Okezie alleged that her son told her the principal of the school moved him to the senior students’ hostel for urinating on his bed.

    She also stated that the senior students mistreated the little boy by pushing their hands and legs into his anus.

    The mother alleged that her son told her that they threatened to kill him if he reported to the principal or his parents.

    She said the principal promised to move the 11-year-old back to the junior hostel but had failed to do so.

    The video had gone viral and provoked outrage on social media, prompting the school to release a statement on Monday where it reacted to the allegations.

    While it noted that the principal has been suspended, the school said an investigation into the case has begun.

    “We will like to categorically restate that Deeper Life High School is built on the core values of godliness and excellence and will not tolerate any immoral act or molestation of any student,” the school wrote.

    “We believe parents /guardians enroll their wards in our schools all over the country because of the strong perception that ours offers a sure-footed platform for moral armament and academic excellence.

    “We want to assure the general public that investigations into the case have commenced and no culprit., whether staff or student, will be spared if found culpable at the end of the exercise.

    “As an interim measure and to underscore the seriousness we attach to higher superintending values, the school principal has been suspended summarily even as further investigations continue.

    “We firmly assure the discerning public that the overall outcome of the investigations will be made known.

    “And appropriate disciplinary actions will be meted to all culprits in this unfortunate act that admittedly threatens to cast unnecessary aspersions on a unique institution that has been a shining example to all over the years.”

     

  • Kumuyi publishes Yoruba Bible after 15 years

    Kumuyi publishes Yoruba Bible after 15 years

    General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry Pastor William Kumuyi has published a Yoruba Bible concordance called Bibeli Mimo Atoka.

    Joined by a team of Yoruba scholars, the project is said to have taken 15 years to complete.

    Kumuyi’s Bibeli Mimo Atoka was published by the Bible Society of Nigeria.

    The church said in a broadcast that the new scripture is “one of the most reliable and readable Bibles” for personal study and teaching.

    It further said: “Bibeli Mimo Atoka offers the most literally accurate translation from the original while keeping the integrity of the Bible.

    “This new version takes care of changes that have occurred over time in the meaning of some expressions found in ancient Yoruba and makes the Bible more comprehensible and relevant to today’s readers.”

    Kumuyi who clocked 79 last June said the Bible was specially prepared, adding that “it is true to the original with cross-references.”

    The Deeper Life church leader urged Christian leaders and ministers to start using it, assuring that the major doctrines of the scriptures were highlighted.

    Notably, the first African Anglican bishop in Nigeria Samuel Ajayi Crowther is credited to have made the first translation of the Bible to Yoruba.

    In the 1880s, Crowther had begun to work in languages other than Yoruba, but he continued to supervise the translation of the Yoruba Bible (Bibeli Mimọ), which was completed in the mid-1880s, a few years before his death.

    He also translated the Anglican Book of Common Prayer into Yoruba.

    Crowther died on December 31, 1891 and was buried at Ajele Cemetery in Lagos.