Kogi Court Remands Pastor for Alleged Culpable Homicide

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja has remanded Pastor Peter Michonza of the New Jerusalem Deliverance Ministry, Ageva, in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State at the Federal Correctional Centre Kabba for 14 days.

Pastor Michonza was arrested on September 19, 2022, by the Department of State Security following an outcry by the people of the local government and the council chairman over allegations of running labour wards for pregnant women in his church, and selling “bulletproof” water to the people, amongst other medically unacceptable practices which have led to the death of many innocent people.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Abdul A. Umar, gave the order on Thursday, following the experte application by the Department of State Services to remand the accused person to enable them continue further investigations.

In an experte application, the accused person was alleged to have committed culpable homicide, causing miscarriage and impersonation punishable under sections 224, 232, 433 and 325 of Kogi State Penal Code.

The suspect will be charged to High Court of Justice after the preliminary investigations are concluded.

The counsel for the defendant, Lawrence Ilobuno, told newsmen that his client was arrested by the DSS on September 19, 2022 and had since been detained in their custody without trial.

According to him, he has approached the Magistrate to file an application bail because the suspect has stayed more than required days in custody with being charged to court.

Ilbuno noted that based on an experte application filed by the DSS for remand to enable them carry out further investigations, the Magistrate has remanded the suspect at Kabba Correctional Centre for another 14 days.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, in his ruling, adjourned the case to October 20, 2022 for mentioning.