UK based Nigerian blogger and an activist Maureen Badejo has reacted to the statement made by human rights lawyer, Mr Inibehe Effiong, who condemned the illegal detention of Apostle Kassy Chukwu, the founder of Peniel of God’s Power International Ministries, Benin, Edo State by the Nigeria Police Force, describing it as unlawful.
Effiong in a press statement made available on Monday, called on the Inspector-General of Police, Baba Usman to direct the immediate release of Apostle Kassy and ensure the matter is thoroughly investigated. He also called for the investigation of abuse of police powers in the case.
In the statement titled:
“Illegal detention of Apostle Kassy Chukwu by the police on the instigation of Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin,” he regretted that the Nigeria Police Force from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), established to curtail serious international crimes, “has been thoroughly abused in Nigeria and is being deployed by every Tom, Dick and Harry to settle personal scores.”
The human rights lawyer said it was shameful that despite persistent demands by Nigerians for the reform of the Nigeria Police Force, the culture of rot, human rights abuses and endemic lawlessness in the Force has continued to worsen by the day.
The statement partly read, “My attention has been drawn to the arrest and continued detention of one Apostle Kassy Chukwu, the founder of Peniel of God’s Power International Ministries situated in Benin, Edo State by the Nigeria Police Force on the instigation of one Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, the founder of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, Warri, Delta State.
“Apostle Kassy was first arrested by the Nigeria Police Force on 5th May, 2022 in Benin and released the following day on Saturday, 7th May, 2022.
“On 6th July, 2022, he was rearrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and remains in the custody of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) in Abuja where he was taken to from Benin.”
He added, “The arrest and detention of Apostle Kassy is based on a complaint by Prophet Jeremiah to the police. He claims that he was defamed by Apostle Kassy in comments he purportedly made on Facebook.
“Irrespective of the allegations made against Apostle Kassy, it is unacceptable that the Nigeria Police Force has once again allowed itself to be used as a tool of oppression and attainment of personal vendetta by an influential member of the society who represents himself as “a man of God”.
“On Sunday, 10th July, 2022, the Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, went to the FCIID in Abuja and sought to see Apostle Kassy but was flagrantly denied access to him. He was also not allowed to give him the food that he bought for him.”
Effiong reminded the police that under Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, every suspect is presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty. “Therefore every suspect in custody has a right to visitation” he said.
“The continued detention of Apostle Kassy is a blatant violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty as enshrined in Section 35 of the Constitution. The police should know that there is a price to pay for impunity and violation of the rights of citizens.
“It is scandalous that INTERPOL, a body which is established to curtail serious international crimes, has been thoroughly abused in Nigeria and is being deployed by every Tom, Dick and Harry to settle personal scores. This is reprehensible and condemnable.
“No court in Nigeria to the best of my knowledge has issued a warrant for the arrest and detention of Apostle Kassy.”
He, however, queried why Prophet Jeremiah has not filed a civil suit against Apsotle Kassy for defamation in a competent court of law, but preferred to use the instrumentality of the police to witch hunt him.
“I call on the Inspector General of Police to direct the immediate release of Apostle Kassy and cause investigation to be carried out into the abuse of police powers in this case. We cannot continue to condone the vicious weaponization of the Nigeria Police Force for sinister purposes by individuals who feel they have money to throw around.
“Nigerians have had enough of this impunity and lawlessness.”
Reacting to this statement Maureen said Apostle Kassy Chukwu, the founder of Peniel of God’s Power International Ministries, Benin, Edo State is never a victim but part of the charlatan gang. Let us know that the problem between Kassy and Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin is just a pure supremacy power, they are just fighting for POWER OF SUPREMACY Maureen said.
”Kassy is one of those people looking for her downfall, so that’s the more reason she has to shed more light to this fight between Kassy and Jeremiah. In the body of crisis they called Christ they have caucus in which Kassy belong to, Johnson Suleiman senior pastor and general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, a church with its headquarters in Auchi, Edo State. Unfortunately for Kassy and Suleiman Jeremiah is more powerful than them.
She further said what Jeremiah is doing to Kassy now Kassy and Suleiman has done same thing to some people. Kassy is just reaping what he sowed and she backed this up by quoting Mathew 7 verse 12 which says Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you: do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. This is exactly what is happening to Kassy now.