Pastor Dragged To Court For Allegedly Defaming Dumamis Church Founder, Enenche

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The police on Tuesday arraigned a cleric, Abraham Daniel, in an Upper Area Court in Zuba, FCT, over alleged defamation of character and inciting the public, NewTelegraph reports.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Chinedu Ogada told the court that the defendant, an Arts Employee of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, between September and November 22, maliciously published materials on social media against Pastor Paul Eneche and Dunamis International Gospel Centre.

He added that the defendant said in that publication: “If anything happens to me, Pastor Paul Eneche and Dunamis International Gospel Centre should be held responsible.”

The prosecution counsel alleged that the publication was intended to harm the reputation of the pastor and further incites the public against the aforementioned person.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Defence Counsel, Mr U.C. Onuaha, applied for bail for his client under sections 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

Onuaha told the court that the defendant was still a pastor under the employment of the church; he was on police administrative bail and he would not interfere with the police investigation when granted bail.

The prosecution counsel, Ogada, vehemently opposed to the bail application, adding that the defendant was of an unknown address.

In his ruling, the presiding Upper Area Court Judge, Mr Gambo Garba, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500, 000 and one surety in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must be a civil servant not lower than grade level 12 officers, and further adjourned the matter to Dec. 16 for hearing.