The Presiding Pastor of the House On The Rock Church, Uche Aigbe, has a criminal case to answer in connection with the illegal possession of firearms discovered in his hands, according to an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court decision.
Chief Magistrate Abubakar Ismail rejected the Pastor’s no-case submission on the grounds that the objection to trial was without merit and substance.
In a quick judgement on Thursday at Zuba, Magistrate Ismail ruled that the defendant has been conclusively linked to the allegations brought against him by the Police based on the entirety of the evidence that has been presented to date.
The police had charged Uche Aigbe, Promise Ukachukwu, and Olakunle Ogunleye with criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of prohibited firearms, inciting disturbance, and criminal intimidation, which they pleaded not guilty to.
The Police alleged that the defendants, all of House on the Rock Church, Wuye, Abuja, conspired with each other to illegally and unlawfully possess an AK47 rifle on February 12, 2023.
The prosecution counsel, Assistant Police Commissioner, James Idachaba, had informed the court that the defendants got the firearm from Inspector Musa Audu, attached to Wuye Division, posted on guard duty at the said Church.
He added that the defendants used the firearm to illustrate while preaching a sermon about faith in the Church.
The prosecution counsel alleged that the defendants made inciting and intimidating statements to the church congregation that could cause alarm and breach of peace.
The offense, he said, is punishable under Section III of the Firearms Act CAP F28, LFN 2004, and contravened Sections 97, 114, and 397 of the Penal Code.
