14th October, 2011
Eight former members of Christ Revival Victory Chapel, Ipaja, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, have dragged their Founder and General Overseer, Pastor Ireti Ajanaku and others to an Ikeja High Court over incessant victimisation and harassment.
Joined in the suit no. ID/728M/2011 in which they applied for the enforcement of fundamental rights (personal liberty and freedom) of the applicants are: the Inspector General of Police, IG the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, Force CID, Alagbon annex, Lagos and three other police officers.
In an affidavit on behalf of other applicants, Mr. Wasiu Adebesin Afuyi stated that, a petition written on 8 August, 2011 by one of the applicants, Mr. Abayomi Ashabi against Pastor Ajanaku for failure to pay the sum of N2.7 million being the cost of woods and planks he supplied for the roofing of the church auditorium, was turned against them by the police.
He alleged that the pastor threatened them on phone that he would deal with them and show them that he is well-connected in Nigeria, hence the fabricated allegations against them that they were threatening his life and assassinating his character.
Afuyi stated that he and the other seven applicants, Messrs. Segun Ajakaiye, Emmanuel Olaseseji, Segun Adesunloye, Kayode Babatunde, Ajibade Aderoju, Abayomi Ashabi and Yemi Aladetoyinbo could no longer sleep in their homes, following incessant victimisation and harassment by policemen on the instruction of Pastor Ajanaku.
“We decided to take refuge under the law of our country following our incessant arrest and detention by policemen under the influence of Pastor Ajanaku who constantly call us and say that we would die in detention. We want the court to enforce our fundamental human right,†Afuyi stated in his affidavit.