A Benin High Court presided over by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba Friday, March 11, 2022 remanded three persons for two weeks in a Benin Correctional Centre over the invasion and destruction of Christ Embassy Church in the Edo State capital.
The suspects were also alleged to have unlawfully assaulted Pastor Godfrey Esiegbe, Chief Superintendent of Police Clement Aikpokpo and Desmond Apebeen.
The suspects, Mr Sunny Ibude, 50; Monday Osabohien, 42; and Godspower Igbinosun, 36 were docked before Justice Ikponmwonba of the Benin Criminal Court One on a 12-count charge.
The three suspects and others now at large were alleged to have between February 18 to March 10, in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace, unlawfully entered into Loveworld Crusade Ground also known as Christ Embassy, Km 10, Benin-Sapele Road, measuring 217,565 hectares covered by Certificate of Occupancy No. EDSR 16894 dated January 25, 2010.
In Charge sheet No. B/CO/545M/2022 between the Commissioner of Police and the three defendants, the accused who were also docked with possession of firearms were charged with attempting to promote native war.
According to Mr I.E. Ekibade of the Legal/prosecution section of the State Criminal Department, Benin, Ibude, Osabohien and Igbinosun are also accused of willful and unlawful damage of building fences valued at N5 million, belonging to Christ Embassy.
The case was therefore has been adjourned to March 29 for mention.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
