From Magnus Eze, Enugu
An Enugu State High Court has granted a perpetual injunction restraining the Inspector General of Police and others from arresting the General Overseer of the City of Jesus International Ministry, Enugu, Pastor Christopher Orji on allegations of swindling a former member of the church, Dr Adaeze Anyaegbunam.
Anyaegbunam had dragged Pastor Orji to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police claiming that she donated over N29 million to the church in various forms and sought refund, a situation the cleric declined to accede to.
But following police harassment, Pastor Orji sought for court protection and filed a fundamental rights suit to stop police from harassing and intimidating him or members of his church in the matter.
Delivering judgment in the Suit No: HAGB/50M/2021 between Pastor Christopher Orji (Applicant) and Inspector General of Police; Commissioner of Police Enugu State; Assistant Inspector General of Police (Force CID Annex Agbani Road) Enugu State; SP Chidi Nwanze and Dr Adaeze Anyaegbunam as 1st to 5th Respondents, Justice Okey Anike barred the police from re-arresting or detaining the cleric.
In a certified true copy of the court judgement delivered by Justice Anike on March 17, but obtained by Daily Sun, the court issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Respondents by themselves or by their agents, privies, or workers howsoever described from instigating, searching, inviting and seeking to arrest and further re-arrest, forcing or compelling the applicant to pay any sum of money relating to the religious relationship between the 5 respondent and the applicant.
“Consequently, the 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Respondents by themselves or by their agents, privies or workers howsoever described are hereby restrained from re-arresting the Applicant in respect of this matter or forcing/compelling the Applicant to pay or refund any sum of money or item to the 5th respondent…”
In an affidavit in support of the pastor’s fundamental rights application deposed to by one Innocent Orji, a trustee of the Ministry stated that Anyaegbunam who hails from Anambra State but resident in the United Kingdom, was a member and partner of the ministry who “participated, partnered and shared testimonies on her personal experience while partnering in the missionary works of the church.”
Members of the church, according to him, do give freewill offerings and donations and also sow seeds of faith as they wished.
He noted that the church however maintained strict rules regarding the receipt of monetary and material messages on the church’s WhatsApp platform.
Anyaegbunam, according to the affidavit had insisted that she was led by the spirit of God to support the church materially but the church was initially reluctant to accept.
However, she continued to pressure the church through continuous WhatsApp messages and recorded voice calls to receive and accept her free will donations and gifts. She later, wilfully and voluntarily donated a Toyota Sienna car with relevant purchase and transfer documents to the church.
Surprisingly however, the deponent said, she sent a letter dated 30th September, 2021 via her solicitors giving the church 15 days to return the vehicle and all freewill gifts, donations and cash that she had given to the church.
Counsel to the cleric, Mr C.C. Eze, who commended the court, dismissed earlier reports on the matter as mere mischievous fabrications designed to deceive, mislead and confuse the public.