Baale Docked For Demolishing Church

A 65-year-old man, Chief Waheed Asha, Baale Aiyetoro in Bariga, Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, was recently docked for allegedly sending hoodlums to demolished a church building at 1, Oke Lane, Bariga, Lagos.

The baale and others now at large were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony to wit malicious damage and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 51 of the criminal code cap 2 vol.2 sec. 451 of the criminal code cap 32. Vol.2 law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

According to the prosecutor, Supol Adegoke, Chief Asha claim to be the owner of Oke Lane where the church is built.

Early this year, Chief Asha was said to have informed the Oke family, who claim to be th owner of the place having lived there for about 30 years, of the small piece of land used as church building in front of their house, claiming ownership of the place and negotiating with the children to pay another money for the land.

The children were said to have refuse to comply.

Speaking with P.M.NEWS, the pastor of the church, Pastor Samuel Amefala, said the gang stormed the church and started demolishing it following the instruction of the Baale.

He said: “I was having counselling in the church when they came in. I had to beg them to be patient; I asked the reason they were demolishing the property because the church house has been operating on the site for three years and I have had no problem with the landlord” but the hoodlums refused to listen and went ahead to demolish the church and the school and in the process stole N800,000 and destroyed property worth N1,548,000.

The school operating by one Gloria Okonkwo, a member of the church, was also demolished. The sum of N800,000 was reportedly stolen from the church while the total cost of properties damaged is N1,548,000.

Chief Asha pleaded not guilty to the charge and the magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties that have at least one year tax clearance.

—Lucky Lawal