A cleric of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, is cooling his feet in prison pending the perfection of his bail application following his alleged involvement in series of kidnapping and gun running in Anambra State.

The suspect, Rev Christopher Nwoye, a native of Umunze in Orumba South council area of the state, was arraigned yesterday, alongside one Damasu Akabogu at the Chief Magistrate Court, Ekwulobia in Aguata council area, for allegedly leading a kidnapping and armed robbery gang to terrorise the state including an attempt to kidnap the Anglican Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Most Revd C.O Efobi.

The prosecution counsel, Mr. Everest Chike, told the court how the clergyman was arrested by operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) led by the Commander, CSP James Nwafor, following confessional statements from some of his gang members earlier arrested by the police.

The suspects, who were docked for kidnapping and other criminal acts however, pleaded not guilty and were later granted bail by the court in the sum of N500,000 with sureties.

It was gathered that the Anglican cleric is standing trial for allegedly being the leader of the kidnap gang and the person who allegedly ferried their arms wherever the gang wanted to kidnap their victims to evade police arrest.

A police source, who pleaded anonymity said: “Each time the gang wanted to kidnap their victims, the Rev gentleman would wear his sultan and hang other clothes that identify him as a priest and conceal these dangerous arms and go and deliver them wherever the members of the gang will pick it for operation.

“He used this method to deliver these arms at various locations from where the gang members used them to rob and kidnap many people and each time he drove past any police check-point, he was never suspected because he was seen as a man of God without knowing that he was a mobile armoury for kidnappers and armed robbers.”

Earlier, counsel to the suspects, Mrs. Nkem Ifeukwu, prayed the court to grant the suspects bail on the ground that the Bishop, who was the complainant, did not appear in court for prosecution of the case. She reminded the court that the first accused is a priest still serving and cannot indulge in such crime.

The counsel told the court that the cleric and his alleged accomplice, Akabogu as well as others at large, were framed up because the priest fell out with his Bishop. She prayed the court to grant them bail on more liberal terms.

Chief Magistrate Adimbe Onu, after hearing the counsel to the defendants, granted the suspects bail in the sum of N500,000 and surety in like sum, adding that the sureties must have landed property within Aguata and Anaocha metropolis.

•Text courtesy Daily Sun.

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