The Nation Newspaper

Tag: church

  • Court orders police to pay N10m to church

    Court orders police to pay N10m to church

    An Effurun High Court has ordered the police to pay N10 million as general damages to a church, Truth Ground Prophetic Ministry Incorporated.

    The claimants, the church and Pastor Joshua Emmanuel Thomas, sued the police, demanding N50 million for general and special damages for the destruction and trespass on a land belonging to the claimants.

    Justice J.E Ikede ruled that the claimants were the true and bonafide owners of the  land on Ogbe Family Layout, behind Police Barracks, DSC Express-way Effurun.

    The Divisional Police Officer, Ebrumede, Suleman Ukhurebor, the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police and Police Service Commission were all defendants in the suit.

    The court also gave an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendant, their agents, servants and privies, from preventing the claimants from gaining accesses to the use and enjoyment of the piece of land.

    “A declaration that the claimants are the persons entitled to a land statutory right of occupancy over all that piece of land measuring approximately 1509.389 square meters lying being and situate at Ogbe Family Lay-out behind Police Barracks, Off DSC-NPA Express way Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area.

    “A declaration that acts of the defendants in entering the claimants said piece or parcel of land without their consent and authority and thereon perpetuated untold damages and destruction is illegal and amount to wanton trespass.

    “The sum of N10, 000, 000.00 (ten million naira as special and general damages for the destruction and trespass committed by the defendants on the claimants said land and properties,” the judge ruled.

  • Insurgency: ‘What the church must do’

    The President, Council of Foursquare Men (CFM) of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Churchill Peters-Ayerume, has urged church leaders to unite in prayer against insurgency.

    He said rather than criticise the government, all churches, irrespective of denomination, should beseech God for divine intervention, especially in efforts to rescue the abducted school girls in Chibok, Borno State.

    Peters-Ayerume spoke in Lagos at a news briefing on CFM’s 2014 Annual Men’s Retreat to be held at the Foursquare Camp, Ajebo, Ogun State from Wednesday till Friday, with the theme: Encounter for divine turnaround.

    He said: “Christians should do more on their needs than criticise the government. When certain apostles were arrested, we were told that the church was mobilised to pray. The Bible records that the building where they were shook, and of course these men were released.

    “I believe that the church, if we’re not separated by denomination, can gather to pray. If the leaders can set aside this denominational thing, and they mobilise the church to pray, this insurgency problem will be solved.

    “I think all that the church needs to do is for us to set aside those things that tend to divide us, then come together to pray. I’m sure heaven will hear. But I’ve not seen it.”

    Peters-Ayerume said the retreat would be a time of divine visitation, restoration, revival, empowerment for business and financial breakthroughs, healing and message of hope to the lost.

    “Come and experience the encounter for divine turnaround that will give you a new name, a new direction and passion that will drive your new vision to fulfillment,” CFM said.

  • ‘Two timed bombs’ found in Church

    ‘Two timed bombs’ found in Church

    The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, said on Sunday in Owerri, that six persons had been arrested in connection with two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted at the Living Faith Church (a.k.a. Winners’Chapel).

    Ali, who spoke to newsmen at the church premises along Port Harcourt Road Owerri, said the `two timed bombs’ were planted at the church premises by unknown persons.

    According to him, the command was alerted about the strange objects in the church compound.

    “We were alerted that some devices were seen in the church and immediately we deployed our anti-bomb squad.

    “We are happy that the squad immediately detonated the bomb on arrival and six persons have been arrested so far,” he said.

  • Church donates structure, furniture to school

    Church donates structure, furniture to school

    The Elevation Church in Lekki, Lagos State has donated a block of 10 classrooms, 150 sets of furniture and a borehole to an Islamic primary school, Zumratul Islamiyah Primary School, in Epe, Lagos state.

    Handing over the building to the school, the head pastor of the church, Godman Akinlabi said the church deemed it necessary to help improve the condition of the school irrespective of religion differences so that the pupils can enjoy learning in a conducive environment.

    “The church has it as one of its policies to send alms out to where there is need and when we came here, we found out that over 800 pupils were accommodated in the only single block of classroom existing. So the church moved in and built a block of 10 classrooms with furniture to reduce the population in each class to less than 40 instead of over a hundred pupils sharing one class.

    “From day one, we knew that religion should not be a barrier and if we think more like this in this country, it will reduce the religious bigotry and also reduce the gap between the rich and the have nots,” he said.

    Akinlabi also advised Nigerian youths to be focused on the rebuilding of the nation instead of building excuses.

    “What we build is what we have; we should stop giving excuses based on what the older generations have done. When we improve on what others have done, then we are moving Nigeria forward and consequentially we are getting ourselves better and better. Nigerian youths should focus on diligence, increase in knowledge and wealth creation,” he said.

    Thanking the church for the act of goodwill, the head teacher, Mrs Ajibayo said before the donation of the building, the large class size made learning very difficult for the pupils.

    “About four pupils were using the chair meant for two pupils. But that is history now,” she said.

    Dr Raji Ajayi, who represented the commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, admonished other corporate and religious bodies to emulate the church by partnering with the government to make schooling easier for the young ones.

    He said the government contributed by building a fence for the school.

    “When construction works commenced, the government sent its officials to the school and built a fence round the facility which helped prevent the materials and equipment being used to build the new classroom block from being tampered with,” he said.

    The handing over of the block was witnessed by Elepe of Epe, Oba Animashaun, the PTA Chairman, Alhaji Salaudeen and the Chief Missioner of Zumratul Islamiyah of Epe, Sheikh Balogun, members and other pastors of the church.

  • Vigilante Chief killed, others injured in Church

    The Head of the Vigilante  Group in Ijebu – Igbo, Chief Tola Okuneye was shot dead Sunday morning by gunmen during service at Saint  John’s Anglican Church, Oke -Sopen, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

    The suspected killers who stole into the church auditorium pretending to be worshipers reportedly walked towards the  direction of Chief Okuneye, fired him on the head and killed him.

    There was confusion within and outside the church premises when gunshot rang out repeatedly and many were injured in an ensuing stampede, a witness told The Nation.

    Okuneye,70,  popularly known as “Ajagajigi” and was until he was killed  on Sunday, said to be the Chairman of Oodua Peoples Congress(OPC) and Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee, was shot several times by the gunmen who rode to the church premises in two vehicles bearing Lagos colour around 11.00 a.m while the service  was on.

    The assailants fled the scene without taking anything  from him while his remains has been deposited at a mortuary hospital in Ijebu-Igbo.

    Although Okuneye was  rushed first taken  to the state Hospital, Ijebu – Ode and then a private clinic but he  was rejected in both places on the grounds that he had died before arrival.

    It was gathered that the killers struck at the time the clergy, Rev. Oke,  was about to mount the pulpit and there was an eerie air fear when the youths – all strangers, walked Into the Church and headed straight to where Chief Okuneye sat, removed their short guns and fired him at close range.

    The Nation gathered that when the gunmen entered the Church auditorium, one of the church leaders, Mr Kole Okunaiya, had tried to challenge them, demanding to know what they were looking for.

    The killers reportedly removed their guns, ordered the worshipers to lie face down and stay calm before shooting   Okuneye.

    A witness said: “there was confusion when  gunshot began to sound. We were shocked and everybody was jittery as the service abruptly came to an end. Some people, especially the elderly one were still in shock as I am talking to you now.

    “Okuneye is a well known man in the town and neighbouring towns. He was among the earliest artisans who was in the business of furniture making in Ijebu area here.”

  • Church seeks partnership to lift the poor

    Bishop Duke Akamisoko of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Kubwa Diocese has said the church needs to demonstrate the essence of Christianity by lifting the poor and embarking on community development. In the circumstances, therefore, he has sought financial intervention from partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

    He said: “as we do this, I want to encourage the FCT administration to partner with us in terms of financial support for the programmes we carry out within the FCT.”

    He spoke at the launch of the strategic plan and health-based community agents’ resources manual of the church’s non-governmental organisation (NGO) – Kubwa Diocesan Development and Welfare Services (KDDWS).

    Akamisoko, who is also the director of KDDWS, said the church has been involved in welfare services around the FCT.

    According to him, the service is not for profiteering but an attempt to help the needy.

    He further said: “We are not doing this for any profit but it is just for us to touch lives. As we present our strategic plans as a diocese today, please partner with us to make this programme a success.

    “As a dioceses, we are not just preaching the gospel but we are also demonstrating practical Christian life, practical Christian love to the communities around us.”

    Meanwhile, a civil rights campaigner Dr Kabura Zakama of the Democratic Governance for Development urged religious leaders to live beyond the comfort of their pulpit and extend the hands of fellowship to their communities irrespective of their faith.

    Zakama, who was the keynote speaker, said “there was so much religious noise in the country, both among Muslims and Christians that has not transformed the people.”

    He said clergymen must not end their preaching in their places of worship but to practically showcase love and impacting on the community through financial supports and other forms of community interventions.

    He enjoined Nigerians to be their brother’s keeper saying “the church has a mandate of speaking the truth against evil and being accountable to the people.”

    According to him, religious leaders needed to be in tune with today’s world and relate with their immediate environment.

    “To say things are difficult is no excuse. We must show good examples and be prepared to develop the people,” Zakama said.

    He noted that poverty was a man-made phenomenon caused by injustice and impunity.

    “Poverty is a creation of man and we must end it by being just,” he said.

    Speaking, the KDDWS Programme Officer Chidozie Ossai noted that the NGO has been involved in education development, advocacy and direct service delivery in Bwari Area Council, Kuje Area Council and the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

  • Church refurbishes school library

    The Redeemed Christain Church of God (RCCG), Greatergrace Assembly, Opebi in Lagos, has upgraded the computer library in Opebi Junior Grammar School. The centre was equipped with 12 computers and provided with a tutor.

    The gesture, The Nation learnt, is part of the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its contribution to the vision of the Lagos State Government to improve the education of people in the locality.

    Its commissioning yesterday was witnessed by state government officials and some clerics.

    The Pastor-in-Charge of Province 35, Remi Morgan, charged both the pupils and teachers to take full advantage of the opportunity afforded them as a greater access to the world and change.

    He added that the gesture was aimed at enhancing pupils’ knowledge and ensure that they are abreast with the information age and make progress to improve the society.

    With the computers were tutorial materials for self-learning and assessment tools that can cater for 24 students.

    The school’s principal, Mrs Temitope Haruna praised the church for assisting the school and its pupils.

  • Two men docked for stealing Seventh Book of Moses

    Two men, David Ogundare, 62 and Ola Busari, 40, were on Wednesday docked at an Ota Magistrates’ Court for allegedly breaking into a church and stealing Seventh Book of Moses and other valuables.

    Ogundare and Busari of no fixed addresses, are facing trial on charges of stealing, conspiracy, breach of peace and malicious damages.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Mustapha Abdulkareem, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 17, 2013, at 5.05a.m. at Igbesa area of Ota.

    Abdulkareem said that the accused broke into the Holy Temple Church of God, Jah Compound, Igbesa and stole Seventh Book of Moses and other valuables worth N660, 000 belonging to one Deborah Obadiah.

    He also alleged that the accused unlawfully conducted themselves in a manner that was likely to cause a breach of peace after damaging the Ark of God Covenant at the church.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 241 (1), 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code of the Revised Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Abimbola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with two sureties in like sum.

    She said that the sureties must have landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and provide the title documents of their property.

    Abimbola also said that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and submit a passport photograph to the court.

    The magistrate further directed the sureties to show evidence of tax clearance for the last two years.

    She, then adjourned the case to April 8 for mention.

  • Thieves steal journalist’s car in church

    Thieves have stolen an Opel saloon car belonging to a retired journalist, Wilfred Igunbor.

    The car was parked inside the premises of St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church along Sapele Road, Benin City, where Igunbor is a parishioner.

    Igunbor, who worked with the defunct Daily Times, had gone to the church to attend the 7am mass

    He has reported the theft to the police and expressed surprise that his car was stolen few minutes after it was parked.

     

  • Girl gang raped by Church security guards in Anambra

    There was confusion and tension Saturday  in Nkpor, Idemmili North local government area, Anambra state  over gang raping of a 14 years old girl  by three security operatives attached to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in the town.
    The girl  went to fetch firewood in company of two other under aged boys at the vast land of Our Lady’s Church Nkpor premises before she was reportedly raped  at machete point.
               The Anambra Police Command confirmed the gang rape report saying a suspect has already being arrested while efforts are on to arrest other gang members of the security men that raped the innocent and harmless girl.
    Police spokesman, PPRO Emeka Chukwuemeka , a CSP said investigations are ongoing and once investigations are concluded the suspects would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.
    The Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Ogidi Division, Mr Abubakar Isa also confirmed the incident and that one of the suspects was arrested by the local vigilance group in charge of Isingwu road, where the victim’s family resides and handed over to the Ogidi police station.

    The girl amidst sobs narrated her ordeal to newsmen saying they were gathering firewood and picking cashew fruits that fell on the ground inside the church compound when three security operatives of the church emerged from nowhere and accused them of plucking the fruits. They denied the allegation insisting that that they only took the ones that fell from the tree.