14th June, 2011
A knife-wielding man, Chima Uwadiechi has been charged to Apapa magistrate’s court in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria for allegedly attacking Bishop Israel Omohwo Ophie of The Church Worldwide International, popularly known as Church In Lagos.
Bishop Ophie suffered the fate during a church deliverance service which Chima attended.
Chima was alleged to have used a knife and attacked the Bishop while he was conducting service at the church’s branch at Ajegunle, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
The church ushers held him and handed him over to the police in the area.
The motive behind Chima’s action was not yet known. Some members of the church were worried that he might have been sent by hired assassins, while others said he might have been possessed by an evil spirit.
P.M.NEWS gathered that while the cleric was conducting deliverance service, Chima who had posed as one of their members, went to the pulpit and attacked Ophie.
Members told P.M.NEWS that it was the first time Chima was attending the church.
When P.M.NEWS visited the church at Ateboh Close, the residents and members of the church who were present confirmed the attack.
Efforts to see the Bishop proved abortive as they said he was not around.
While the members expressed shock over what happened on that day, they told P.M.NEWS that they want the police to thoroughly investigate the matter.
They did not rule out the possibility of assassination attempt on the Bishop.
The 33-year old Chima who resides at 62, Ojo road, Ajegunle, Lagos was charged to court for the alleged offence.
Part of the charge reads: “That you the defendant at the same address, time and place did wound the Bishop by inflicting injury on his face.â€
The offence, the police said, was punishable under section 451 of the criminal code 2003.
When the matter came up in court, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs A. K. Shonubi, granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with surety in like sum.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe