With the arraignment of eight well-known pastors in the state, Anambra State Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo has fulfilled his threat to prosecute men of God who are lacking in the religious profession.
At the request of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, who is spearheading the prosecution against the suspects, the pastors, who are primarily located in Onitsha, the State’s commercial hub, were already arraigned in a State High Court at the State Judiciary Complex Awka. Peter Chukwu, Chinedu Egwuonwu, Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, Ebele Nnachukwu, Ekeleme Chris Ugochukwu, Ndubisi Nnachukwu, Miracle Iruoma, and Chukwukadibia Ogwuama were the eight pastors who were arraigned.
The Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025 (Agunechemba Law) specifically provides for rules affecting religious leaders and religious institutions, as regards their involvement in crime and supernatural activities.
Section 19 criminalizes the use of religious places for unlawful activities and empowers the Governor to shut down any religious establishment involved in crime.
The law in Section 19(1) also provides for penalty for commitals if crime by religious leaders: ”
“Any person who uses any religious place for the commission or to aid the commission of any crime, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 6 years with an option of fine of ₦20 million or both” Equally, the law in Section 19(2) enshrines sealing of rigorous places suspected of being used to commit or aid the commission of any crime may be sealed by the order of the Governor pending the conclusion of investigation..”
In Section 19(3), the law provides fur criminal . Prosecution for religious leaders:
“If after the conclusion of investigation, there exists a prima facie case of the commission or aiding the commission of any crime in such place, any person found culpable shall be charged to court.
“Where a person is charged to court under this section, the property or place involved shall, where sealed, except unsealed by the order of the Governor, remain sealed until the determination of the charge or unless otherwise ordered by the court.” (Section 19(4))
I want to say that I really appreciate what the governor did—he’s a talk-and-do governor, not one who just says things and does another. If more leaders and people in positions of power act like this, then others will think twice before trying to carry out any fraudulent activities. Actions speak louder than words, and when people see real commitment and integrity, it discourages dishonesty and promotes trust.
