A cleric, Pastor Wisdom Ameka of Kingdom Church, Iju Ishaga, Lagos, received the shock of his life when some armed men stormed his church during a vigil and robbed him of his valuables.
It was reported that the cleric was preaching when the hoodlums entered the church with arms drawn, creating instant panic.
The church members reportedly fled in various directions leaving the pastor with the robbers who ordered him to give up all valuables on him.
According to P.M.Express Pastor Ameka lost his phone and ATM card, which they used to withdraw money and equally transferred to another account.
The robbery operation was reported to the Police, who later arrested one of the suspects, Aruna Badri and transferred him to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for further investigation.
The 32-year-old Badri is now facing a charge of conspiracy and armed robbery under the Criminal Laws of Lagos State before the Yaba Magistrate Court.
The Police alleged that the defendant conspired with others now at large and invaded the church armed with guns during the vigil and robbed Pastor Ameka of his belongings before they escaped.
The Police said that the alleged offence contravened Sections 297 and 299 of the criminal code, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The accused’s plea was not taken. Instead, a motion was moved by the prosecutor, Inspector Modupe Olaluwoye, for the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because the alleged offence involved arms.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Linda Balogun, ordered his remand in custody at the Correctional Centre pending the outcome of the DPP’s legal advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.
