Assemblies of God faction accuses police, army of complicity in crisis

We intervened to ensure order, say security agencies

A Faction of the Assemblies of God Church yesterday accused the police and 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, Enugu of complicity in the leadership crisis rocking the ministry.

The church asked Enugu Police Command and the 82 Division of the Nigeria Army to explain the relevant sections of the law which empowered them to evict the factional general superintendent, Rev. Paul Emeka from the national secretariat of the church in Enugu and led factional leader, Rev. Chidi Okoroafor to occupy the place.

According to them, some officers, allegedly led by two assistant Police Commissioners and soldiers from the 82 Division of the Nigeria Army on Wednesday evening invaded the secretariat of the church at Independence Layout, Enugu and chased the workers away, asking the Okoroafor group to take over.

But the police and the army have denied any complicity, explaining that they intervened to protect court officials and enforce law and order.Addressing journalists in Enugu yesterday, Emeka described the action of the security agencies as “travesty of justice,” explaining that there was no court order asking the Okoroafor faction to possess the secretariat.

He stated that the Supreme Court judgment last month did not pronounce Okoroafor as the general superintendent of the church nor sacked him (Emeka) as the general superintendent.

Emeka said a fresh process had commenced at the Enugu High Court and hearing would come up on April 27.In his reaction, the Public Relations Officer of Enugu Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu said: “The police did not evict any member of the Assemblies of God Church as claimed, but we provided security to the officers of the Supreme Court and the State High Court who were in Enugu to perform their lawful duties at the secretariat of the church.

Also, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Enugu, Col. Musa Sagir said: “Nobody was brutalised by our personnel. You may be aware that the church has been in court for sometime now. Our patrol team was there to assist the police in case there is break down of order.”