By Tunji Wusu –
An Enugu State High Court has issued a perpetual injunction preventing the police from arresting Pastor Christopher Orji, General Overseer of City of Jesus International Ministry, Enugu. Pastor Orji was accused of defrauding a former Church member, Dr. Adaeze Anyaegbunam, of about N29 million.
Anyaegbunam had petitioned the AIG’s office against Pastor Orji, stating that she had donated over N29 million to the church in various forms and wanted the money returned to her, a judgment that the pastor had rejected.
Pastor Orji contacted the court and filed a fundamental rights claim after being harassed and intimidated by police.
Justice Okey Anike restrained the police from re-arresting or detaining Pastor Christopher Orji (Applicant) and Inspector General, Nigeria Police Force; Commissioner of Police Enugu State; Assistant Inspector General, Nigeria Police Force (Force CID Annex Agbani Road) Enugu State; SP Chidi Nwanze and Dr. Adaeze Anyaegbunam as 1st to 5th Respondents.
On March 17, 2022, Justice Anike issued a judgment (a Certified True Copy of the court judgment is available) that “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Respondents by themselves or by their agents, privies, or workers howsoever described from instigating, searching, inviting, and seeking to arrest and further re-arrest, forcing or compelling the Applicant to pay any sum of money howsoever described or make a return of the free
“As a result, the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Respondents, individually or through their agents, privies, or workers, are hereby restrained from re-arresting the Applicant in this matter or forcing/compelling the Applicant to pay or refund any sum of money or item to the 5th Respondent…”
A trustee of the Ministry stated in an affidavit in support of the Cleric’s fundamental rights application deposed to by one Innocent Orji that Dr. Anyaegbunam, a resident of the United Kingdom, was a member and partner of the ministry who “participated, partnered, and shared testimonies on her personal experience while partnering in the missionary works of the church.”
Members of the church, he claims, make freewill offerings and donations and plant seeds of faith as they see fit.
According to the affidavit, Anyaegbunam asserted that she was inspired by the spirit of God to financially help the church, but the church was first hesitant to accept.
When she continued to put pressure on the church through constant Whatsapp messages and recorded phone conversations to receive and accept her free will donations and gifts, the church eventually received her willful and willingly donation of a Toyota Sienna car, complete with purchase and transfer documentation.
