A Chief Magistrate Court in Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja has proclaimed that the Presiding Pastor of the House On The Rock Church, Uche Aigbe has a court case to answer, as regards to the unlawful possession of illegal firearms found in his possession.
The no-case plea made by the Pastor was rejected by Chief Magistrate Abubakar Ismail on the grounds that the objection to trial lacked points and substance.
In a brief ruling on Thursday, August 10 at Zuba, Magistrate Ismail held that from the entirety of the evidence so far considered, the defendant would be effectively linked with the charges filed against him by the Police.
Police officials also charged Uche Aigbe, Olakunle Ogunleye, and Promise Ukachukwu with criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of banned firearms, stirring up disturbance, and criminal intimidation. All accused parties have pleaded not guilty to these charges.
The police operatives also alleged that the defendants, all of them House on the Rock Church members, in Wuye, Abuja, had plotted with one another to illegally possess an AK47 rifle on the 12th of February, 2023.
Assistant Police Commissioner, James Idachaba, who is also the prosecution counsel had briefed the court that the defendants got the firearm from Inspector Musa Audu, posted to Wuye Division, and was guard duty at the said Church.
Idachaba also added that the defendants had used the firearm to give examples while preaching a sermon about faith in the Church.
The prosecution counsel had additionally, alleged that the defendants made violent and intimidating statements to the church congregation that could have caused alarm and breached the peace of the church.
This offense is punishable under Section III of the Firearms Act CAP F28, LFN 2004, and violates Sections 97, 114, and 397 of the Penal Code, according to Idachaba.
