FOLLOWERS of a so-called pastor currently on the death row of Nigeria’s justice system, Emeka Ezeugo, alias Rev. King, arrived the Igbosere Magistrate Court in Lagos in large numbers on Thursday, as a former member of their congregation was brought to the law court for alleged offences that included at least one felony charge.
Mr. Timothy Ezeuko, formerly of the Christian Praying Assembly, Ajao Estate, at Mafoluku, Oshodi, in Lagos State, was arranged by the police on a two-count charge of giving false information to law enforcement.
According to the charges read to Ezeuko in the court, headed by Justice O. I. Oguntade, “Timothy Ezeuko ‘M’ and others at large on the 30th day of December 2005, at about 10:00am at Ikeja in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit; giving false information and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 125 of the Criminal Code, Cap C17, Vol.2 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.
The second count of the charges against Ezeuko alleged that “Timothy Ezeuko ‘m’ and other at large on the same date, time and place, in the foresaid magisterial district write a petition to the commissioner of police, Lagos State Police Command Ikeja, alleging one Dr. Reverend King ‘m’, Chijioke King ‘m’, Olisa James ‘m’, Samuel Amajunyi ‘m’, Queen King ‘f’, Vivian king ‘f’, Ann King ‘f’ and Ify Nnabuife ‘f’ abducted your wife Mrs. Ijeoma Timothy Ezeuko ‘f’ knowing fully well that it was false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 125A of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Vol.2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.
Justice Oguntade has adjourned the case for hearing on October 21.
The man at the center of the events that triggered the latest case, popularly known as ‘Reverend King’, has been in state custody since January 11, 2007, when Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Ikeja High Court sentenced him to death by hanging, following his conviction on a 5-count charge of murder.
The bearded self-claimed pastor of Christian Praying Assembly (CPA) at Canal View Street in Ajao Estate was convicted for setting fire on seven members of his church whom he accused of fornication. One of them, Ann King, died as a result of injuries sustained in the fire.
The deathrow inmate, currently awaiting an appeal of the verdict of execution issued him, has been transferred a number of times from one prison to the other since his conviction, mainly due to problems associated with the number of visitors who flock the locations of his incarceration for some form of favor or the other.
As recent as September 20, he was transferred from the Kaduna prisons to Katsina. Among other nuisances, he has been alleged to be engaging in sexual acts with visitors even while in jail.