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Pastor linked to Kenya ‘starvation cult’ charged to court

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12 months ago

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Ezekiel Odero, a controversial pastor in Kenya, has been linked to the death of over 100 people who were asked to starve to death so that they could meet God.

On Friday, Jami Yamina, a senior prosecutor in the case, told a court that some people who died at Odero’s church were buried on a piece of land in Shakahola forest belonging to Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, the cult leader.

“He is linked to several occurrence book reports of almost 100 deaths that occurred in the church between 2022 and 2023. These deaths occurred within church precincts,” Nation, a local media quoted Yamina to have said.

However, Odero’s lawyer argued that “people seek spiritual intervention at the last moment when every medical intervention has failed. Now if such a person dies, are we supposed to turn to the pastor and blame him for the death?

Odero and Nthenge share a “history of business investments” including a television station that was used to pass “radicalised messages” to thousands of followers, prosecutors said.

Odero is being investigated for murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalisation, genocide, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud, money laundering, and being an accessory to crimes, the court heard.

Joe Omido, the chief magistrate, ordered the pastor to be detained at the police station until May 2 when the court would deliver a ruling on an application to detain him for 30 days.

Nthenge is also due in court on Tuesday.

Kithure Kindiki, interior cabinet secretary, said it appeared that what happened at Nthenge’s church was “the tip of the iceberg”.

The death toll now stands at 109.

After paying another visit to the crime scene, Kindiki said “the government has upscaled the search and rescue efforts for persons suspected to be holed up in the thickets in Shakahola”.

He said security agencies were doing their best to save as many lives as possible.

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Drama as pastor Paul Enenche confronts lady for sharing fake testimony (Video)

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2 weeks ago

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April 15, 2024 12:33 pm

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Paul Enenche, the senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), on Sunday, called out a woman for sharing what he claimed to be a “false testimony”.

A short video from the DIGC’s service went viral on social media wherein he confronted the woman during her testimony.

The lady had taken to the altar to testify how she became the first graduate in her family. She also thanked God for making it possible for her to graduate with a “Law degree from the National Open University Of Nigeria (NOUN)”.

She recounted how some spiritual forces prevented her and her siblings from attending universities and how she overcame them.

Enenche, however, asked the lady what degree she graduated with and she said “Law”. The clergyman thereafter inquired to know what kind of “Law degree”, to which the lady answered “BSc in Law”.

The cleric immediately pointed out that there is no such thing as a “BSc in law” — casting doubt on her testimony.

“Your testimony is a lie. There is nothing like a BSc in Law. Please go back to your seat. Bsc in Law. Is that how lawyers speak English?” the cleric asked rhetorically.

“Please, anybody who comes to this altar to share a testimony that is not true, you do it at the risk of yourself.

“We are not playing here. We are not faking anything here.”

The video has been widely circulated on social media platforms, with users airing their different opinions.

NOUN held its 13th convocation on Saturday. The convocation ceremony saw 22,175 students graduate across NOUN’s 120 study centres in Nigeria.

Of the graduates, 15,768 received their undergraduate degrees, while 6,407 were awarded postgraduate certificates.

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Religion

FG approves Thursday as additional public holiday for Eid-el-Fitr

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2 weeks ago

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April 9, 2024 8:34 am

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The federal government has approved Thursday April 11 as an additional public holiday for this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Aishetu Ndayako, permanent secretary in the ministry of interior, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

On April 7, the federal government had declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays for the Muslim celebration.

Shortly afterwards however, Muhammad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, declared Wednesday as the first day of Shawwal 1445AH, adding that there was no sighting of the new moon on Monday.

In the new statement, Ndayako quoted Tunji Ojo, minister of interior, as congratulating the “Muslim Ummah for a successful completion of a month of spiritual rejuvenation”, while “reiterating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s (GCFR) firm commitment to providing a safe and prosperous Nigeria for all to thrive”.

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Religion

FG declares Tuesday, Wednesday as public holidays for Eid-el-Fitr celebration

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3 weeks ago

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April 8, 2024 8:39 am

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The federal government has declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, announced the public holidays in a congratulatory message to the Islamic faithful in the country.

Eid-el-Fitr festival is celebrated by Muslims worldwide after observing Ramadan fasting for 29 or 30 days.

The minister congratulated all Muslims in the country for the successful completion of the fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

He called on faithful to imbibe and practice the virtues of kindness, love, tolerance, peace, good neighbourliness, and compassion as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

“The Minister wishes all Muslim Ummah a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration and prays that the peace, blessings and favour of Allah be with everyone and our Great Nation,” the statement reads.

Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to continue in the spirit of unity to improve and achieve peace and oneness in the country.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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