Uche Aigbe, the senior pastor of the House On The Rock Church, was found to be in criminal possession of firearms by a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
Chief Magistrate Abubakar Ismail rejected the Pastor’s no-case submission on the grounds that the objection to trial lacked validity and substance.
On Thursday at Zuba, Magistrate Ismail issued a brief judgement saying that the defendant has been successfully linked with the charges made against him by the Police based on the evidence shown thus far.
Uche Aigbe, Promise Ukachukwu, and Olakunle Ogunleye pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of restricted guns, inciting disorder, and criminal intimidation brought against them by the police.
On February 12, 2023, the police claimed that the defendants, all members of House on the Rock Church in Wuye, Abuja, had conspired to illegally and unlawfully possess an AK47 rifle.
Assistant Police Commissioner James Idachaba had informed the court that Inspector Musa Audu, assigned to the Wuye Division and stationed at the aforementioned Church as a security officer, was the source of the pistol used in the alleged crime.
He elaborated that during a sermon about the importance of having trust in the Church, the defendants had used the gun as an example.
The prosecution claimed that the defendants made statements to the church congregation that were both inciting and frightening, with the potential to create panic and breach of peace.
He claimed that the crime was illegal under Sections 97, 114, and 397 of the Penal Code and was penalized under Section III of the Firearms Act CAP F28, LFN 2004.
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