By Chinenye Festus:-
Bishop of Zaria Diocese, Anglican Communion, Abiodun Ogunyemi, has been arraigned in the court over a statement he made in November 2019, that the state governor, Nasir el-Rufai, will never be President of Nigeria.
He made that comment at the time, demolition of churches was rampant in that State.
“The whole of the Sabongari Market is our land acquired in the early 1900s with genuine C of O which we have submitted to the state government for recertification. Any attempt by el-Rufai to demolish any of our properties in that market will be a direct assault on the church in the whole of Nigeria.
“The governor should know that he will never be President of Nigeria. I speak prophetically as a servant of the living God,” the bishop said. He noted that the demolition of churches is callous and evil and anyone involved in it will face the full wrath of God. He, therefore, warned the government to desist from such acts.”
Ogunyemi was arraigned before a chief magistrate’s court in Kaduna on charges bordering on criminal defamation, injurious falsehood, and criminal intimidation.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him and was granted bail by the court.
The case was adjourned to October 28, 2020, for continuation.