Ilorin; Revd, Lawyer, Others Charged To Court For Alleged Theft, Criminal Trespass

…allegedly attacked a rival Church.

By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin

A Reverend of the Anglican Church Communion in Ilorin, Kwara State, a lawyer and three others have been charged to court for a four-count charge of theft and criminal intimidation.

The charge also included criminal conspiracy, trespass and mischief contrary to sections 97, 348, 328, 287 and 397 of the Penal code law of the federation.

A police First  Information Report (FIR) brought to court said the case was as a result of a petition brought by Barrister A.T Smith on behalf of one Pastor Job Oluwashikun that the clergy man, the lawyer and three others on the 18th May, 2026 comitted the offence when they attacked Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Agbara Adura, Ganmo belonging to the Pastor (Oluwashikun).

The accused persons; Jacob Osaji, (a Reverend) Sanusi Adetunji Taofeek (a Lawyer), Akaaba Usman Umaru, Adeyemo Olanireti Wahab, Alayerogun Suyi and others still at large invaded the Church premises armed themselves with dangerous weapons and willfully attacked as well as disturbed an ongoing service programme of the Church.

The charge said they caused mischief on the portion of the Church building, carted away the church gate and blocks, and went ahead to harass and threatened the life of Pastor Oluwashikun during the attack.

Police said investigations conducted by its Area Command office revealed that the arraigned Lawyer; Adetunji Taofeek, intentionally and callously led others, descended on the Church premises where they all partook and caused mischief on parts of the Church building as well as stealing blocks, gate and other valuables in the church.

Police said the accused persons owned up in their confessional statements where they admitted to committing the crime and that during further investigations Police found that the incident was not the first but that they (the accused) had a record of more than two instances of such crime to wit trespass, mischief and carting away properties of the church and then went further on each occasion to threaten the life of Pastor Oluwashikun.

The presiding Judge, Sunday Adeniyi who is also the Director of Area Courts in Kwara State adjourned the case for hearing on the 12th of October this year and sustained the earlier bail of N50,000 each that they had been admitted.