Buhari-Must-Go campaigners sue Nigerian mega church pastor

Five protesters who were arrested at the Abuja headquarters of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC) on July 4 have filed a case in court against its senior pastor, Pastor Paul Enenche and others, challenging their arrest and detention.

Ben Manasseh, Samuel Gabriel, Henry Nwodo, Anne Udoka and Samuel Larry were picked up at the church by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS). They have been in detention since then.

On July 8, the protesters have filed separate suits at the Federal High Court, Abuja, asking it to declare their arrest and detention illegal and award N10 million damages to each of them for breaching their fundamental rights.

The suits, FHC/ABJ/CS/631/2021, FHC/ABJ/CS/636/2021, FHC/ABJ/CS/637/2021, FHC/ABJ/CS/638/2021, and FHC/ABJ/CS/639/2021, were filed by their counsel, Tope Tomekun.

Other defendants are President Muhammadu Buhari, SSS and its director, Yusuf Bichi, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Senior Pastor of DIGC, Pastor Paul Enenche.

The protesters were arrested during service at DIGC for wearing shirts with the inscription “Buhari Must Go,” apparently demanding the resignation of President Buhari over alleged incompetence.

Church denies

But in a statement on July 7, the DIGC authorities denied involvement for the arrest of the protesters on its presmises.

It spokesperson, Dr Adah Ochowechi, said though the church remained resolute in its advocacy for human rights, justice and freedom, it had no hand in the arrest and detention of the protesters.

 “Our attention has been drawn to a misleading caption in the media space about the arrest and detention of youths in our church on Sunday July 4, 2022.

“The narrative being peddled is that some youth wearing T-shirt branded with #BuhariMustGo merely came to church and walked up to the alter as first timers and were arrested by the church and handed over to DSS.

“Nothing can be further than the truth. The church holds three services every Sunday and the Senior Pastor, Dr Paul Enenche, preaches in all the services.

“After the sermon in the first service on that Sunday, an altar call was made to which many people came out, including the said youths, and nothing happened to them,” the statement said.

The church said that after the service, the group swung into action and started a protest, blaring trumpet and saxophone right from the exit door of the church.

The statement pointed out that the protest was being live-streamed with the background shot of the church building.

“This appears intriguing for many reasons: No one knew who they were or where they came from.

“No one knew the organisation they represented or their ultimate agenda until the DSS apprehended them.

“No standard rule of engagement was followed as they merely sneaked into the church and swung into protest on a holy day of service.

“Moreover, the church is not an activism ground but a centre for the projection of truth against all forms of evil.

“The church is non-political and non-partisan and thus not an appropriate ground for political protests. It is not the seat of government where those being protested against reside,” it said.

The statement further reads: “We wish to state categorically that Dunamis International Gospel Centre has no hand in the arrest and detention of the said youths as they were arrested outside the premises of the church.

“The church has no right to arrest and detain people and has no detention custody. The right of arrest and detention resides with government security agencies.”