Kaduna State Government has dragged an Anglican Bishop, Rt Rev Abiodun Ogunyemi, to court for alleged criminal defamation, injurious falsehood and criminal intimidation.
Bishop Ogunyemi of Zaria Diocese of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion was arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Kaduna on August 4.
The bishop’s arraignment arose from a letter of appeal he sent to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on September 18, 2019, following government’s directive that the Cathedral Church of St George in Zaria should be demolished.
Copies of the letter were forwarded to the Commissioner of Police and Director of State Security Services.
Following other protests from Church members and stakeholders, the government in a newspaper publication rescinded the order to destroy the Cathedral.
It was alleged that the governor was not happy with one of the Bishop’s correspondences he sighted elsewhere which he believed was offensive and directed the Commissioner of Police for discreet investigation.
As a result, the police invited the bishop for interrogations several times to its headquarters in Kaduna.
However, on August 3, after a long lull, he was again invited to the Police Headquarters.
The next day August 4, he was arraigned on the advice of the Ministry of Justice.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.
A member of the Kaduna Synod and a canon of the Cathedral Church of St Michael, Kaduna stood in as surety.
The magistrate adjourned the case to August 17 for hearing of witnesses.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, who led the legal team of the state, announced in court that there were consultations going on which could lead to peaceful resolution of the case and requested for an adjournment.
The Chancellor of Zaria and counsel for the bishop, Dr John Omughele, conceded to this and the court adjourned the case to October 28 for report, or hearing, or report and hearing.
