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June 4, 2024
Another pastor who also accused Rev. Emmanuel Ukoha of intimidation is Ikechukwu Chukwuemeka.
Police personnel in the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit are currently taking a pastor identified as Nelson Iroegbo, who was arrested in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to Abuja.
SaharaReporters on Monday reported how the pastor was arrested earlier that day by the police after he confronted Kingdom College Ministry General Overseer, Rev. Emmanuel Ukoha with allegations of harassment against the church owner.
SaharaReporters learned that Iroegbo and some of his colleagues had reportedly faced intimidation and harassment since the confrontation.
His wife, Chioma, told SaharaReporters about her husband’s arrest and detention on Monday.
She said: “My husband and some other pastors started having issues with the GO (General Overseer) because they confronted him when church members accused him of having sex with them.
“Since 2022, he has been harassing and intimidating my husband with the police. He is currently with them (police) and I’m also in the police station to see him as I’m speaking with you. I heard they are trying to fly him to Abuja soon.”
“My husband was arrested inside my shop today (Monday) in Uyo without telling him his offence and when he insisted on not following them, the police said they would handcuff him and force him to surrender,” she added.
In a WhatsApp conversation with SaharaReporters on Tuesday, the pastor revealed that the police were forcibly taking him to Abuja “for more torture”.
He said, “Am with the IG monitoring team right now. They arrested me at Uyo Akwa Ibom yesterday, we're heading to Force Head Quarters Abuja. We're on transit in a private car with two policemen.”
Another pastor who also accused Rev. Emmanuel Ukoha of intimidation is Ikechukwu Chukwuemeka.
He said after his graduation from the ministry’s bible college, he was posted to one of its outstations in Abuja by the cleric.
When SaharaReporters called the Senior Investigator from the IGP Monitoring Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Chinedum Blessed, who was handling the matter for comment, the officer denied any harassment or intimidation by the police against the pastors.
He said, “If you read the message sent to him (Ikechukwu), you would see there is no form of harassment. He said the matter is before the court, why can’t he wait for the court to decide if we actually harass him or not? Or is he trying to do a media trial?
“In fact, asking me to comment on this matter is even pre-judicial and I would urge him to follow the due process on this matter.”
When contacted, Rev. Ukoha described the allegations as gossip.
In a terse message sent to our correspondent, he said, “Investigative journalism is professional; gossip kills; don't live on gossips without proofs.”
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