TheNewsGuru

Tag: pastor

  • Just In: House on the Rock pastor charged with unlawful possession of AK-47 rifle

    Just In: House on the Rock pastor charged with unlawful possession of AK-47 rifle

    A Chief Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja has ruled that the Presiding Pastor of the House On The Rock Church, Uche Aigbe has a criminal case to answer in the unlawful possession of prohibited firearms found in his possession.

    The no-case submission made by the Pastor was dismissed by Chief Magistrate Abubakar Ismail on the ground that the objection to trial lacked merit and substance.

    In a brief ruling on Thursday at Zuba, Magistrate Ismail held that from the totality of the evidence so far adduced, the defendant has been effectively linked with the charges preferred against him by Police.

    The police had charged Uche Aigbe, Promise Ukachukwu and Olakunle Ogunleye with criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of prohibited firearms, inciting disturbance, and criminal intimidation, which they pleaded not guilty to.

    The Police alleged that the defendants, all of House on the Rock Church, Wuye, Abuja, conspired with each other to illegally and unlawfully possess an AK47 rifle on February 12, 2023.

    The prosecution counsel, Assistant Police Commissioner, James Idachaba, had informed the court that the defendants got the firearm from Inspector Musa Audu, attached to Wuye Division, posted on guard duty at the said Church.

    He added that the defendants used the firearm to illustrate while preaching a sermon about faith in the Church.

    The prosecution counsel alleged that the defendants made inciting and intimidating statements to the church congregation that could cause alarm and breach of peace.

    The offence, he said, is punishable under Section III of the Firearms Act CAP F28, LFN 2004, and contravened Sections 97, 114, and 397 of the Penal Code.

  • Celebrated Akwa Ibom pastor officiates burial ceremony, dies 24hrs after

    Celebrated Akwa Ibom pastor officiates burial ceremony, dies 24hrs after

    A popular pastor of The Evening Church, Uyo, in Akwa Ibom state, Pastor Runcie Mike, is dead.

    The church leadership disclosed in a statement that Pastor Mike died after a brief illness on Saturday, July 1.

    Members and friends have reacted to the sudden death of the man of God who officiated the burial service on Friday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state .

    It was a dark Saturday for the Christian community in Nigeria as Pastor Runcie Mike, the Lead Pastor of The Evening Church in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, passed on after a brief illness. According to the church’s leadership, Pastor Mike passed on Saturday, July 1, a day after he officiated a burial service on Friday.

    Members and friends of the late Pastor Mike have taken to social media to share their griefs, and pains as the tears continue to flow.

    One Debbie Iteh, who posted a video of Pastor Mike at a burial service on Friday, said: “I’ve never seen an officiating Minister weeping this hard before during a funeral service of one of his church members whom he buried on Friday.

    “When I saw this video yesterday, I felt this man had something running through his mind at the moment that could make him so emotional, today the sudden news of his death hit social media. Same person officiated a burial yesterday? died today?

    “People are really going through a lot but can’t open up to even the closet people around them. God please show Mercy. Rest On Pastor Runcie Mike God bless your soul.” A church member, Eunice Obed Ufford said: “I’ve been up since 2 am looking out from the window, staring into the heavens completely lost in thoughts. Gospel Edoho, on his part, said: “So Sad and hard to bear. So much tears in my eye right now. Pastor Runcie Mike agreed to be in our church next month without a cost. He told me “Gospel I want you to succeed” He told me Gospel whatever you need from me let me know. The Publicity was just about to kick off. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Cor. 15:55.

    I console with The Evening Church and pray for God’s grace and ability to bear this transition to Glory. Pastor Runcie is gone.”

  • EFCC arraigns pastor for  allegedly defrauding landmark university N19.3m

    EFCC arraigns pastor for  allegedly defrauding landmark university N19.3m

    The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 arraigned an Ilorin-based associate pastor of the Living Faith Church (aka Winners’ Chapel), Temidayo Eseyin, for allegedly defrauding Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State of N19.3million.

    Eseyin, a lawyer and former member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch was docked on a four-count charge bordering on dishonestly misappropriation of funds belonging to the University before Justice Funsho Lawal of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin.

    The defendant allegedly abused his position as Attorney to Landmark University, to cheat and defraud his client. Specifically, the defendant, between 2014 and 2022 managed a property known as “Old Midland Building” belonging to Landmark University, situated along Emir’s/Obbo Road, Ilorin, which rent Mr. Eseyin collected for 8years but could not account for the funds. He also allegedly attempted to sell the property without authorisation from the University.

    Count 3 of the charge reads: “That you, Temidayo Eseyin sometime in the year 2021, in Ilorin Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly misappropriated the sum of Six Million, Sixty Four Thousand Naira Only (N6, 064,000) representing payment of rent on property known as Old Midland Building belonging to Landmark University and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law and Punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Rashidat Alao, urged the court to fix a date for trial, and remand the defendant pending trial.

    However, Eseyin’s lawyer, Femi Makinde, moved an application for the bail of the defendant.

    Justice Lawal admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10million with two sureties in the sum of N5million each. The judge ordered that the sureties must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The judge adjourned the case to a date, which would be communicated to the parties.

  • Over 70,000 worshippers attend Pastor Jerry Eze’s NSPPD UK prayer Confab+Photos

    Over 70,000 worshippers attend Pastor Jerry Eze’s NSPPD UK prayer Confab+Photos

    Thousands of worshippers over the weekend converged on the London Excel Arena, United Kingdom, to attend the Streams of Joy International Church, New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations Conference.

    The historic event which was hosted by the lead pastor of the church, Pastor Jerry Eze took place on June 17th and 18th.

    A statement issued by the Media Unit of the Ministry disclosed that Pastor Jerry packed out the Excel Arena with over 70,000 persons in attendance for the two days.

    Foreign media reports also have it that the arena is one of the largest event spaces in the UK with a capacity of 68,750 visitors.

    “As seen on videos the arena was filled to the brim with worshipers. Pastor Eze has continued to break boundaries with the gospel of Christ, as this event is being regarded as one the largest gathering of people in recent times for the gospel in the UK.

    “At the prayer conference, numerous testimonies were shared and several gospel artists also led the worship session.

    “A woman had testified of being healed of 20-year arthritis, while another who had been in a wheelchair for the past three years testified of being able to walk unaided. Another participant testified of being healed of a 13-year mobility impairment and was seen walking without her crutches. A man testified of a dumb tongue loosened, another testified to being healed of multiple sclerosis, while another woman testified of being healed of 40-years hearing impairment,” the statement revealed.

    It noted further that”NSPPD prayers has continued to grow in popularity and in the number of ardent followers online and offline. Recall that, in July 2022, NSPPD prayers emerged as the number one online prayer platform and number one ‘Daily Most Super Chatted Gospel Channel’ in the world with a record 313,768,909 or 889,627 chats per day, according to data compiled by Playboard.

    “Reacting to the impact of the UK conference on the church’s official Instagram handle, Pastor Eze wrote, ” “NSPPD UNITED KINGDOM PRAYER Conference! was nothing but a testament of God’s Glory, fire and Power…. “WHAT OUR GOD CANNOT DO DOES NOT EXIST!

    “The historic event has been the talk of the town for days, with several participants testifying the goodness of God. Indeed, “What God Cannot Do, Doesn’t Exist”!!!!

  • Lagos: 26-year-old man machetes pastor over fake prophesy

    Lagos: 26-year-old man machetes pastor over fake prophesy

    Lagos police  have arrested a 26-year-old man, one Akpannu, for allegedly cutting a pastor with a machete for allegedly giving him a fake prophecy.

    Akpannu was alleged to have in May, 2023, cut the pastor of one of the new generation churches, Prophet Anayochukeu, for allegedly giving him a fake prophecy.

    It was learnt that the incident  happened at the church’s headquarters in the Ijesha area of Lagos State.

    The accused claimed that the pastor, during a prayer session, told him that he was about to lose his sister except when certain prayers were conducted.

    The accused said a pastor had earlier told him that for him to be successful in business he must perform certain spiritual cleansing which required him to buy coconut and dry gin with which to pray.

    Angered by the earlier prophecy which the accused claimed did not work, he attacked the second pastor with a cutlass inside the church premises.

    The matter was reported to the police, who trailed the accused to his hideout where he was arrested.

    While at the station, the accused alleged that both pastors instilled fear in him by giving him false prophecies that his only sister would die by January, this year.

  • Court sentences pastor to death by hanging for killing choir mistress, others

    Court sentences pastor to death by hanging for killing choir mistress, others

    A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has sentenced the General Overseer of the Alter of Solution and Healing Assembly in Oyigbo Local Council, Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor to death by hanging for killing three people, including his choir mistress, he allegedly impregnated.

    In his judgment, Justice S. O. Benson said the evidence and confessional statement by Pastor Okoroafor proved that he murdered his choir mistress, Orlunma Nwagba, her friend, Chigozie Ezenwa alongside her daughter, Cresabel Ezenwa.

    Justice Benson held that the prosecution proved the case of murder against Okoroafor and ordered that the pastor should die by hanging.

    The judge also ruled that the convict should be hanged on his neck until he dies or be injected with lethal injection,which will also kill him faster.

    Rivers State Police Command had on December 17, 2018, arrested Pastor Okoroafor, following an alarm raised by the husband of the late Chigozie Ezenwa over the killing of the three victims on December 11, 2018, in two different locations in Oyigbo Local Council.

    Speaking to newsmen outside the courtroom, the prosecuting counsel from the state’s Ministry of Justice, Precious Ordu and a representative of International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Antonia Osademe, expressed happiness over the judgment which they described as justice well served.

    Ordu said: “Today, judgment has been given to both the state, the complainant and the convict. It will serve as a deterrent to all persons that intend to commit the same offence because it is a justice for all. We are happy today that judgment was given in favour of the state.”

    Also, husband to one of the deceased, Ezenwa, said: “I am happy. Last time I saw my wife in a dream and she walked across me with kids and I asked her where she was going and she answered that she was going to rest and I thank God today that judgment has been given.”

    Meanwhile, Innocent Ekwu, who the is counsel to the convict, said the court erred in its judgment, by failing to clear doubts raised by the defence before arriving at the verdict.

     

  • How bishop allegedly raped assistant pastor at Lekki

    How bishop allegedly raped assistant pastor at Lekki

    A 23-year-old  assistant pastor on Tuesday told an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court how a bishop, Daniel Oluwafeyiropo, allegedly raped her twice.

    Oluwafeyiropo is standing trial on an amended three-count charge bordering on rape and sexual assault, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The assistant pastor (name withheld) testified for the prosecution at the bishop’s trial.

    She was led in evidence by Lagos State counsel, Mr Babajide Boye.

    She told the court that she was an assistant pastor of 1 Reign Christian Ministry founded by the bishop.

    She said that she knew the bishop on  May 28, 2018, when her friend invited her for a church programme at which the bishop ministered, at Akungba, Akoko in Ondo State.

    She said that the programme was tagged  “Strictly Supernatural”.

    According to her, she subsequently became a member of the church and rose to the position of an assistant pastor.

    She said that Pastor Boluwatishe Oladejo took over from Pastor Toyosi Bamise as the Lead Pastor then.

    The witness told the court that the bishop, who she regarded as her spiritual father, raped her at his residence on Ikota Villa Estate, Lekki, Lagos State, on June 21, 2020.

    The witness said: “I was listening to Pastor Chris’s message when bishop came to the three-seater chair I was sitting on and told me to go naked.

    “For the fear of what happened a day before, I went naked,  and bishop locked the door, increased the volume of the television and went naked also.

    “He pinned me to the chair and raped me. He was bigger than me.”

    The witness said that she appealed to the bishop to leave her but he did not.

    “He threatened that I would run mad if I should tell anyone; so, I was in the guest room till the following day.

    “On June  22,  I sent a  message to  Pastor Boluwatishe and informed him that I had been raped,” the alleged victim testified.

    She also told the court that the bishop did not allow her to go out of the house after the first alleged rape.

    “He sent the gateman anytime I needed anything. It was at this time that it was dawn on me that this man is a rapist.

    “For my safety, I was acting stupid and acted as if I did not tell anyone.

    “I was in the room when he came again and said he wanted to have sex but  I refused.

    “He was very angry;  so, I told him  I had tears from the previous sexual violation,” she testified.

    The witness said that, on June 23, 2020, the bishop also told her that he wanted to have sex with her.

    “He said I should count it as a privilege that he had sex with me because many people would love to have sex with him.

    “I told him I had someone I was dating.

    “That same morning of June 23, he took off my dress and raped me again in the sitting room.

    “He told me I would die if  I should tell anyone. I bled a second time because of the forceful entry,” she said.

    She earlier told the court that the bishop called her on phone on June 5, 2020, saying that it was her turn to come with some other pastors to his house at Lekki, Lagos State.

    She added that,  on June 19, when she got to the house, the bishop came out from his room and told her that she had a query to answer.

    She testified that the bishop told her that she would transcribe his message entitled “Fulfilling My Ministry”.

    She said: “The following day, on June 20, only the bishop and I were left in the house after other pastors had left.

    “The bishop told me to go on a three-hour prayer work around the estate but I came back 30 minutes before the three hours elapsed,  due to rain.

    “He questioned why I returned earlier, and I told him that it was due to rainfall.

    “I was seated on a couch that same day listening to Pastor Chris’s message when the bishop walked up to me from the dining section and made comments on the teaching I was listening to.”

    She testified that the bishop thereafter told her to pull off her clothes but didn’t rape her.

    “He said he wanted to know my loyalty and see If I had finally submitted to him.

    “I told him I could do anything for him but sex. He tried kissing me but I stopped him; then, he slapped me.

    “He ordered me to wear back my clothes, saying that I disappointed him,” the witness said.

    She testified that on June 24, 2020, the bishop told her to clean up the house.

    “That was when Sister Faith and Pastor Toyosi came to the house.

    “I tried to talk to Pastor Toyosi but bishop did not give me a breathing space until he travelled to Ghana and I went home.”

    The alleged survivor also told the court that  the defendant sent N5,000 to her from  Ghana to treat herself because of the tears she had.

    “He got back to Nigeria with his two children and wife, and when the wife asked why I could not walk well,  bishop told her I contacted a disease from toilet.

    “He came to meet me about 3.30 a.m. in the guest room and brought out a rod for me to swear with, that I would run mad if I should tell anyone that he raped me, which I did out of fear.

    “He took me to First City Hospital, Lekki, where Dr Tina Clement, a member of the church attended to me, ran some tests, gave me drugs and sent the results to him.

    “When the doctor asked what happened to me, bishop told me to tell her I was raped by my friend, and he was with me throughout the tests,” she said.

    A computer printout of chats between her and the defendant was admitted in evidence.

    Oluwafeyiropo is also alleged to have had sexual intercourse with one other person and sexually assaulted another, aged 19 years, by forcefully sucking her breasts.

    According to Lagos State Government, which is prosecuting the case, the alleged offences contravene Sections 260(2) and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Justice Ramon Oshodi adjourned the case until May 24 for cross-examination of the witness and continuation of trial.

    NAN

  • Pastor divorces wife after herbalist died on her during s3x

    Pastor divorces wife after herbalist died on her during s3x

    Joshua Ajagunigbala and Rita’s 22-year marriage was dissolved by an Ekiti State Customary Court in Ado Ekiti due to irreconcilable problems, most notably infidelity.

    Following charges that his wife had been promiscuous, most recently with a well-known herbalist in Ikere-Ekiti, the state’s capital and the location of Ikere Local Government Area, the pastor sought a divorce and went to court to do so. The marriage had produced four children and was blessed with the couple’s attention.

    The herbalist, Kehinde Fadayomi (Ejiogbe), was thought to have passed away from magun (thunderbolt) on January 2, 2023, after having sex with the cleric’s wife in a hotel.

    The cleric in a petition pleaded with the court to dissolve their union on the accounts of adultery and also pleaded for the custody of their children.

    The petitioner in his evidence stated that he did not pay the respondent’s dowry, adding that they had both lived together for more than 22 years.

    He added that this would be the third time he would drag his wife to court on the grounds of adultery.

    Joshua stated that the respondent in 2017 had an illicit affair with an herbalist called Ifadayomi AKA Ejiogbe who is now late.

    He gave evidence on how the man died on the respondent while having sex in a hotel in Ikere-Ekiti on 2nd of January, 2023 which led to thugs destroying his house and his church at Ikere.

    Joshua was equally suspended by his church authority.

    The petitioner as a result of these stated that he was no longer interested in the union and pleaded with the court to dissolve it and grant him custody of their children.

    Delivering his judgement, the court president, Joseph Oyedele, said there was no legal customary marriage between the two, declaring that both were, therefore, free to go their separate ways.

    He said: “Having gone through all the oral evidence presented before this court, it was discovered that there was no legal customary marriage between the parties and as such there was no marriage to be dissolved.

    The court here-by declare that both parties are now free to go their different ways and maintain peace.”

    Oyedele, however, ordered that the petitioner take full responsibility for the welfare and education of the last two children because they are still minor.

    “On the issue of the custody of the children, the court can only give order on the last two children of their marriage because they are yet to reach the age of maturity. The first two children are free to decide with whom they want to live between the two parties because they are no longer minor.

    “However, the court orders that the last two children of the union are to be with the petitioner and he should be responsible for their welfare and education.”

  • Pastor allegedly absconds with 52 phones, money after crusade in Ibadan

    Pastor allegedly absconds with 52 phones, money after crusade in Ibadan

    Residents of Aponrin in Agbowo area of Ibadan are now on the trail of pastor who allegedly absconded with 52 android and iphones, money and other valuables after a three-day crusade.

    The pastor was said to have told his victims that he was led by God to come to Ibadan from Gambia for the crusade.

    It was learnt that the cleric, on the last day of the crusade, claimed that Holy Spirit directed him to tell those in attendance to submit their phones, money and other valuables.

    He was, however, said to have absconded with those items.

    The victims said that the pastor, who lured them into three days of fasting and prayer, was nowhere to be found on the last day of the crusade, as all efforts to locate his whereabouts proved abortive.

    A victim, Mrs Grace Akintola, said that many widows had gone to the crusade because the pastor promised to give each of them a bag of rice and money.

    Akintola, who is a widow, said that the ‘man of God’ also promised to empower students who attended the crusade with scholarship awards.

    “The pastor approached an Igbo lady in our area to assist him to gather widows and students and that he wanted to help us.

    “Someone in my area invited me for the crusade. The crusader put on priest’s regalia. He even said he would buy a fully-furnished house for one of us.

    “The pastor equally promised some of those who attended the crusade money, the kind of money that even politicians could not give.

    “The last day of the crusade, he (pastor) sold a bottle of water for us at the rate of N4,800; he said that the water had been mixed with perfume and many people paid for it,” she said.

    Another victim, a student of University of Ibadan, who pleaded anonymity, said that the pastor ordered them to fast for three days.

    He said that he collected their phones so as to keep them away from them and allow them focus on prayers, unknown to them that it was a trick to get rid of their belongings.

    “He said no phone should ring during the programme and that was why he collected all of them.

    “In fact, he snapped at a lady who stood up and wanted to take his photograph and seized the phone from her,” he said..

    He further stated that on the last day of the crusade, the pastor said he wanted to go and rest at the hotel where he had lodged.

    “He (pastor) later said he wanted to go and eat inside the University of Ibadan after which we didn’t know how he escaped with our belongings.

    “As a man of God that he claimed to be, we respected him a lot. We didn’t know that he wanted to use the name of God to dupe us,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the pastor has been declared wanted by residents of the area, as posters bearing his name and pictures have been circulated within the area to track him.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident.

    Osifeso said that investigation had commenced on the matter and that updates would be provided.

    NAN

  • How pastor allegedly defiled Church member’s 17-year old daughter

    How pastor allegedly defiled Church member’s 17-year old daughter

    A medical doctor, Mrs Maria Fadaka, on Monday told an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, how a pastor, Chris Mcdouglas, allegedly defiled a 17-year-old daughter of a member of his Church.

    Mcdouglas, a Pastor at Peculiar Generation Assembly Church, Lagos, is facing a nine-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Fadaka is a public health officer at Mirabel Medical Centre, (a sexual assault referral centre),  Lagos State  University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH).

    She was led into evidence by the state Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins.

    The medical doctor told the court that the survivor, (name withheld)  presented herself for medical examination on May 12, 2020, a week after the last alleged sexual intercourse with the defendant.

    According to her, “The survivor came to Mirabel Centre on May 12, 2020 and complained of rape by her pastor.

    “The survivor said the last sex escapade occurred about a month prior to her presentation at the centre.

    “The result of the medical examination showed forceful and repeated vagina penetration,” she said.

    A copy of the medical report of the witness, dated  May 14, 2020, was admitted into evidence following no abjection from defence.

    While being cross-examined by defence counsel, Mr Suleiman Salami, the witness told the court that she was an employee of LASUTH and that it was possible for someone who has had consensual sex to have repeated vagina penetration.

    The witness said she only reviewed the history of the survivor which was written by the counselor at the centre and captured it in her report.

    The doctor added that the survivor did not mention to her that she was defiled through the anus and no DNA test was carried out to ascertain that the defendant committed the alleged offences.

    The prosecution informed the court that it would be closing its case against the defendant after the witness gave her testimony.

    The defence counsel, however, informed the court of filing a no case submission.

    “We shall serve the prosecution necessary documents my lord,” Salami said.

    Justice Ramon Oshodi adjourned the case until April 27 for filing and adoption of no case submission by defence.

    The mother of the survivor (name withheld) and one Insp Akikuowo Omiere, had on Jan. 9, testified against the embattled pastor in the ongoing trial.

    NAN