Court Adjourns Trial Of Pastor Arrested For Carrying Gun In Church
Faith Ukanwa
May 11, 2023
Court Adjourns Trial Of Pastor Arrested For Carrying Gun In Church
A Magistrate Court in Zuba, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday adjourned the trial of a cleric, Uche Aigbe.
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The Pastor of House on The Rock (HOTR), The Refuge, in Wuye, Abuja, was arrested in February over alleged unlawful possession of firearm.
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The court adjourned hearing following the substitution of Aigbe's legal representative Uche Uzukwu, according to PRNigeria.
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The new counsel, Barrister O. E. Ube of P. H. Ogbole SAN & Co, made the request pursuant to Section 36 (A) of the 1999 Constitution.
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Prosecution Counsel, J. C. A. Idachaba contended that the Section 36 cited by his colleague doesn't envisage indulgence, complaining the defence applications were many.
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After listening to the arguments by both sides, Magistrate Abdulaziz Ismail postponed the case to May 25 for definite hearing.
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The police charged Aigbe, Promise Ukachukwu and Olakunle Ogunleye with criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of prohibited firearm, inciting disturbance, and criminal intimidation.
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The security agency said the defendants, all of House on The Rock, The Refuge, conspired with an illegal possession of an AK-47 rifle on February 12, 2023.
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The prosecutor, Idachaba, informed the court that the defendants got the gun from Inspector Musa Audu who was on guard duty at the Church.
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The Assistant Commissioner of Police added that they used the firearm for an illustration while preaching a sermon about faith.
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The police alleged that the defendants made inciting and intimidating statements to the congregation that could cause alarm and breach of peace.
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The offence violates Section III of the Firearms Act CAP F28, LFN 2004, and contravened Section 97, 114, and 397 of the Penal Code.
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— Faith Ukanwa