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Tag: cleric

  • Cleric arraigned over alleged N352,000 ‘special prayer’ fraud

    Cleric arraigned over alleged N352,000 ‘special prayer’ fraud

    A 44-year-old man, David Eludi, who allegedly obtained N352,000 from a woman under false pretences, has been dragged before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The defendant, said to be a pastor, was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences and stealing.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The prosecutor, Dr. Simon Uche, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in November at Jakande area of Ajangbadi in Ojo.

    He said the defendant conspired with others, now at large, to collect N352,000 from Florence Samuel, with a promise to use the funds to liberate her from family curses.

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    Uche said the representation was found to be false, as the defendant failed to embark on any family liberation.

    The prosecutor said the defendant converted the funds to his own use, without the consent of the complainant.

    The offences, according to him, contravene sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum.

    He adjourned the case till January 12, 2024 for mention.

  • Cleric to leaders: be selfless

    Cleric to leaders: be selfless

    The Founder and Lead Pastor of The Transformation Church (TTC) Worldwide Rev. Sam Oye, has urged leaders in the country to be selfless.

    He said no nation would develop if the leaders don’t listen to the people, saying the solution to Nigeria’s problems would come from Nigerians.

    Oye said this during the 3rd annual public lecture series, induction and conferment of honorary doctorate degree of the African School of Diplomacy and International Relations.

    The event, with the theme “The Political Economy of Nation-Building: The World’s Unfinished Business”, was organised in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom (UK).

    Oye, who received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Global Leadership and Strategic Management at the event,
    Oye, blamed politicians for the various challenges encountered in the electoral system.

    He said: “No nation will develop if the leaders don’t listen to the people and the solution to Nigeria’s problems will come from Nigerians.

    “Our leaders should stop playing God. It’s time for our leaders to start listening to the people.

    “The answer to the problem in the Niger Delta is in Niger Delta, not in Abuja; the answer to the problem in Okrika in Rivers, is in Okrika and not in Abuja.

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    “If we rejected colonisation which is externals coming to rule us, why should we submit ourselves now to Abuja ruling other parts of the country when elites without grassroot experience begin to make decisions over the lives of people who are on the ground without visiting them.

    “So, I think that the way forward in Nigeria is to sit down and talk with the people. If we talk with the people, we get answers to the problem from the people.

    “Today also reminds us that in 2014, Nigerians sat down and came up with a document on the way forward for our country; we need to go back and listen to what we all agreed on and that is the way forward.”

  • Cleric to Islamic preachers: stop causing religion disharmony on social media

    Cleric to Islamic preachers: stop causing religion disharmony on social media

    An Islamic cleric, Alh. AbdulRofiu Muhammed-Jamiu, has urged some Islamic preachers using social media to bully or abuse others as well as and religions not to cause religion disharmony in Nigeria.

    He lamented that some Islamic preachers use social media to abuse one another and misinterpret teachings of Quran for their selfish gains to attract more followers and make money.

    Speaking in Ibadan at a National Conference organised by Supreme Council for Islamic Preachers South West Nigeria, the cleric stated that such habits contradict teaching of Islam and could create disunity, cause religion disharmony and portray the image of Islam in bad light.

    The theme of the conference was “Exploring the misuse of social media in the context of Islamic values and the contemporary devastation between Palestine and Israel.”

    According to him: “As preachers, we must fear Allah in whatever we do, use social media to right the wrong in the society, promote the beauty of Islam, encourage religion tolerance and not to do otherwise.”

    “A lot of Muslims are now confused as a result of some messages we spread on the social media, We must be careful and watch whatever we say in order not to misinterpret the Quran for our selfish gain and mislead the people.”

    “As Muslims, we must wake up, unite in doing the right things, condemn what is wrong in the society and adhere to the teaching of the holy Quran and Hadith of prophet Muhammed in whatever we say and do.”

    He called on Islamic preachers to be steadfast in interpreting Quran correctly and preach to people with wisdom in a way that would not create religion disharmony among Muslim groups as well as other religions.

    Council National Chairman, Alhaji Taofiq Akeugbagold said the conference was to address bullying among Islamic preachers, especially on internet which has ridiculed Islam to an extent.

    He said Islam teaches modesty, adding that the conference would critically look at the problem of the misuse of social media and peacefully find lasting solution to it without causing any rancour.

    Read Also: UK-based cleric remanded over N305m fraud

    He urged Muslims to unite and collaborate in order to address the problem confronting them in the society so as to build a better world for generation to come.

    Oyo Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, said preachers irrespective of religion should be just in whatever they say.

    Lawal, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu,  called on them not to be sentimental in the way they preach.

    Dr. Ibrahim Adelani, who was also a guest lecturer, called on media organisations to accurately report conflict between Palestine and Israel, saying many happenings in Palestine are under reported by the media.

  • UK-based cleric remanded over N305m fraud

    UK-based cleric remanded over N305m fraud

    A United Kingdom (UK)-based cleric, Pastor Paul-Kayode Joash, has been remanded in the Agodi correctional facility, Ibadan, Oyo State, for allegedly defrauding three persons of N305 million.

    Joash, Senior Pastor of The Great House Nation Church, Ibadan, allegedly collected the money to produce certificate of sponsorship for those intending to migrate to the UK for healthcare job. He was arrested in his church following a report by the victims.

     He was said to have collected N134,823,750 from a victim; N30 million from another; N135,177,750 from one and N5,881,000 from another victim, totalling N305,882,500.

    Pastor Joash was said to have charged between £3,500 and £5,500 per candidate, but failed to provide the certificates after one year. He was also said to have been sneaking in and out of Nigeria.

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    The cleric was arraigned on a 10-count charge of obtaining money under pretence. He however pleaded not guilty.

     He was thereafter admitted to N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum, who must be gainfully employed and ready to deposit their international passports. One of the sureties must also have property in Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan.

    The case was adjourned till December 18 for mention.

  • Why Nigerian youths must cater for aged parents – Cleric

    Why Nigerian youths must cater for aged parents – Cleric

    The Superintendent of Christ Army Church, City of David Cathedral, Ikot Ebidang in Onna local government Area of Akwa Ibom state, Venerable David Udonsek, has called on Nigerian youths to take care of their parents at old age.

    The cleric made the call during the 3rd national conference of the church on Sunday while delivering a sermon on the topic “Parents Are Gates And Doors Of Life.”

    The man of God admonished Nigerian youths not to abandon their parents at old age as such attitude reflects negatively on the larger society and on such children.

    He said: “A man’s Door is shut immediately he or she abandones his parents irrespective of his level of finances and other possessions if there’s any.”

    He urged children to carter for their parents because it is their responsibility to do that just as the parents took care of them from infancy into adulthood. 

    He added: “Parents are gate through which everyone passed through into this world, during labour if a woman decide to close her legs a child will not come out, and untill mother’s body is open babies don’t find their way out into the world, either through Womanhood or Cersersan Section (CS). 

    “To castigate your parents as witches and wizards constitutes blockage of one’s destiny, a secret we have neglected, our parents needs our care just as they cartered for us during our childhood, we should live for our parents to avoid walking in dark on the day light”, he warned, adding that these are the most problems faced today by christian families.  

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    Speaking further, he said: “Society today should not abandon their parents or any elderly person for all of us have in one way or the other received one or two blessings from an elder during our childhood. 

    “Our society have been infiltrated with the spirit of pride, self-centeredness, egoism that always make us feel that, another person is our own problem, blaming our inability to succeed in life to the old people in the village when in reality we are the reason for our failures”, adding that Jesus Christ never said that there will be trouble free life on earth.

    Quoting from the Bible book of Hebrews 12:14-15, Dr Udonsek maintained that seeing our parents as our problems is the beginning of more problem in our ways.

    “If our parents are witches and wizard as some of us claim, they would have killed us during labour and delivery. They refused to eat so we could eat, they wore one set of clothes just for us to make it in life, they did all sort of things just to see us grow well. So, it will be a curse to any child that abandons his or her parents.”

    He asked God for His mercies over many who may have fallen victim of this as people from every walks of life filed out seeking for God’s intervention over their mistakes and ignorance. 

    “We Pray the good Lord who makes it possible for us to  succeed in this annual Convention, make you also to succeed in all your endeavors, we pray those who received healings in one way or the other God in heaven should perfect and make the healings permanent, those who have received Christ in their lives through this conference God in heaven continue to be with them now and always and we also pray that God in heaven should take you back to your different destination”, he summarised.

    He prayed blessings for dignitaries that came from far and near to grace the annual conference despite their busy schedule which has made history in the south south state. 

    Udonsek assured that the next edition of the national conference will be more blessed than this year.

    “We the entire members of Christ Army Church (GBC) with gladsome heart express gratitude to all members, friends, families, colleagues, and members in other denominations who find out time out of their busy schedule to attend the conference which makes it the best of its kind that ever happened in South South States, God should blessed you all. 

    Dignitaries who attended the conference include, His Lordship, Bishop Rt. Rev. Mark J. Akpan (JP) Akwa Ibom Diocesan Bishop/ National Conference Chairman  C.A.C (Gbc), His Lordship Rt. Rev. Adokiye H. Fenibo Rivers/Abia 

    Diocesan Bishop/National Conference Chairman C.A.C. (Gbc). Other Ministers were; Bobby Friga, guest Minister, Rev. Julius Praise from Port Harcourt, guest Minister and Esther Edoho who also featured as guest Minister among others.

    The event featured, salvation messages, Songs Ministration, warfare Prayers/Intercession, Healings/deliverance, Review of Constitution, General Conference, Novelty Football Match and lots more.

  • Cleric seeks prayers for leaders

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Gospel Evangelical Mission (RGEM) Prophetess Monisola Duro-Faseyi has charged Nigerians to always pray for their leaders.

    Faseyi said doing so would give the leaders divine wisdom to handle the myriads of problems the country was currently facing.

    She warned those wishing leaders of the country evil to desist from doing so, saying it was God Himself that put them in the positions they occupied.

    The prophetess, who spoke in Akure, Ondo state capital, said Nigerians should avoid doing anything that would impede the progress of the country.

    Her words: “I urge all Nigerians, Christians and Muslims, to pray for the political leaders of this country, president, governors, lawmakers and even councilors.

    “People should stop wishing them evil. If not, suffering will increase in the land. This is what God has revealed to me.

    “The Holy Bible instructs us to always pray for our leaders. 1Timothy 2:1-5 says we should pray for our leaders if we want them to succeed.

    “God said He was the one who made President Muhammadu Buhari the ruler of Nigeria this time. God said He is the one that enthrones and dethrones kings.

    “God referred me to Daniel 4:17 and Roman 13:1-2. God said He enthroned Buhari this particular time and that He chooses whoever He likes.”

    Faseyi urged Buhari and his wife, Aisha to work together and find ways of reducing poverty in the country.

    She also urged Buhari and his wife to work together to ensure that hunger was reduced in the country, saying “People should not die of hunger in this country. God said He put them there to oversee the affairs of the country.

    “They are caretakers and general overseers of Nigeria at present. They must take care of the country and the people they are governing. They must ensure that people don’t die because they don’t have food”.

    The cleric warned Buhari’s aides to be truthful to their boss, saying they would suffer the consequences if they failed to do the right thing.

    Faseyi said activities of some religious leaders contributed a lot to problems in the country, lamenting that those who should bring light had become harbingers of darkness.

    She said:” I also have a message for religious leaders. Are we doing it the way God instructs us? God said I should ask you. Are we not the problem of Nigeria? Are we not the problem of this government?

    “This is the time for repentance for all of us. Listen to what God is saying so that we don’t regret coming to this life. Let’s behave like Jesus Christ”.

  • Support government to fight terrorism, cleric tells traditional rulers

    The Grand Administrator and Director, Supreme Board, Rosicrucian Order AMORC, Kenneth Idiodi has called on government, traditional rulers, religious leaders and all citizens to join the moral campaign to stop all acts of terrorism, killing, banditry robbery and other acts of violence in our country

    He said this yesterday at the AMORC Public Lecture on Spirituality for Social Justice held at ISIS Hall /Premises, Ilupeju, Lagos.  According to him, all civilized persons throughout the world condemn extra judicial killings.

    He stressed that the challenge of entrenching good moral values in the society cannot be addressed by government alone but by everyone working together to raise a new generation.

    “We must begin to teach our children eternal values through the ages at prenatal and postnatal stages of their development. This way they will grow up with these values making the next generation much greater than us,” he said.

    He further attributed the spate of vices in the society to the increasing cases of social injustices, adding that  as poverty, discrimination, inequity increases the chances of terrorism, criminality and all forms of social unrest would increase.

    According to him,  “when society denies some people of their fair share of goods and services while others get more than they deserve an imbalance is created in its internal structure. This underlying imbalance manifest outwardly as all kinds of societal ills.”

    Also speaking at the event, the first National Vice President of the University of Lagos Alumni Association, Dr. Fassy Yusuf stressed that that the missing link between leadership and spirituality in the country is values, adding that we urgently need value based leadership and value based spirituality to make our society better.

  • Cleric preaches against immorality

    The Chief Imam of Area 10 Garki Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi, has warned Muslims against all acts of evil and immorality during the month of Ramadan.

    Al-Yolawi gave the advice in his Juma’at Sermon on “The Etiquettes of Ramadan Fast,’’ yesterday.

    He identified such forbidden acts as slander, backbiting, deceit, fraud and pilferage of public fund and property, among other vices.

    The cleric said a fasting person was expected to prevent his or her tongue from engaging in idle speech, abuse, spreading harmful information, backbiting and tale bearing.

    According to him, fasting prevents the believers from cheating, deceit, giving less than due, guile, committing immorality and bribery.

    Al-Yolawi also admonished Muslims to hasten to do good deeds, like establishing the prayers and giving of arms in the correct manner to the recipients specified by the Islamic injunction.

    He also enjoined Muslims to be diligent in offering charity and engaging in beneficial projects during the month of Ramadan.

    “Fasting is among the greatest things that help in controlling desires, suppressing lusts, purifying souls and restricting them to what pleases Allah,’’ Al-Yolawi said.

    The Islamic scholar also urged Muslims to avoid acts that could lead to sexual arousal like kissing and embracing wife with sexual desire.

    Similarly, Al-Yolawi warned believers against watching bad movies, warning that a fasting person should avoid all kinds of ‘haram’ (forbidden) actions.

    “Among the things that can reduce one’s good deeds and bring sin is allowing one to be distracted by watching movies and sports matches,’’ said the cleric.

  • Cleric tasks churches to reposition nation

    The Lord Bishop Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion), Rev Humphrey Olumakaiye, has implored the church to put the nation on the path of righteousness.

    The cleric spoke at the annual Lenten talk, Choral Renditions and Breaking of fast organised by The Island Club of Lagos with theme: Renewal of the Spirit and the Re-born Worship in Nigeria, Life in the Spirit, Life of Worship.

    Olumakaiye regretted that some vices had bogged down the Nigerian socio-religious landscape for a long time.

    He said: “The nation has been faced with corruption and maladministration, economic and structural woes, insecurity, instability and insensitivity in governance and lack of continuity in policies. The Church has also been challenged with disunity and denominational politics, poverty-infused Christianity, insincerity and self-motivated calling, syncretic religion and exploitative and business-oriented/privatised church ministries.”

    The cleric noted that the current Church has drifted far from the original gospel and the original mission of winning the world for Christ.

    Olumakaiye said: “The independent relationship between the Church and the nation has made it such that a nation will always reflect the kind of Christians and churches in it, and vice versa. Most churches in Nigeria are at best generally taken as private businesses. Churches are established by self-called individuals, hence wrong doctrines and practices develop without any system to check their spread.

    “The role of holistic theological education in the repositioning of the Church and the worship life of the nation cannot be overemphasized. The scripture says that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

    He noted that to reposition the nation is to return it to the paths of righteousness.

    Olumakaiye added: “Our nation is really sick and dying. The Church has also grown lethargic, pursuing shadows rather than focusing on its responsibilities as the salt of the nation. God has made us watchmen for the nation, to cry out to him for help and healing when we see the nation in danger…”

    The chairman of Island Club, Mr. Olabanji Oladapo said the Lent is a period before Easter during which Christians fast, abstain from all sinful acts and express penitence.

  • How to stop kidnapping, banditry, by cleric, retired general

    PRESIDENT of the United Church of Christ in Nations (HEKAN) Reverend Amos G. Kiri and Chairman of the Northeast Development Commission General Paul Tarfa (rtd) have said a synergy between the nation’s security outfits can defeat kidnapping, banditry and others.

    They also said the Federal Government must deploy tAir Force fighter jets to rid the nation’s major highways of kidnappers, robbers and bandits.

    Both spoke in Kaduna at the closing of the 53rd Annual Convention of HEKAN at Gonin Gora in Kadun yesterday.

    General Tarfa, chairman of the convention said kidnapping on Kaduna-Abuja road and other places would not stop until security agents take the fight to them in the forest.

    He said: “Since it has been identified that the criminals attack and go into the forest to hibernate, the best to do to root them out is take the fight to them in the forest. The forest must be combed, otherwise they will keep on coming back to the road.”

    Reverend Kiri said: “The need for synergy of security agencies to end this matter is important. They should join hands together and salvage the nation by forgetting about rivalry and working as a team.

    Speaking further, the HEKAN president, who was once a policeman, said besides the government should play a proactive role by supporting the agencies.

    “The government must support these agencies. I would suggest that the Air Force jets be used on the criminals through air raids and the Army battalions on foot can chase the hoodlums out of the forests,” he said.

    HEKAN president said the  truth was that the security situation had degenerated.

    “This is no exaggeration or latest news. It has been in television, social media and all over. The security situation is so bad that we cannot close our eyes to what is happening.

    “That the governor of Kaduna State ran into kidnappers and as a result, saved some Nigerians calls for concerns. What if he was not there at that moment?” he queried.

    He said the development had threatened Nigeria’s food security as people were afraid to go to their farms.

    “It  is so bad that our livelihood is threatened. We are devastated because of what the kidnappers have unleashed on us. You can’t travel because you are afraid, whether by day and night,” he lamented.

    On the presidential elections, he hailed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, for seeking redress in courts, instead of resulting to violence.

    He urged the tribunal and the court to be fair in dealing with cases before them.