Police Arrest Celestial Pastor for Murder of Parishioner

The pastor of Jesu Segun Parish of the Celestial Church, Santana area of Ajagbadi, Dominic Michael, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for the alleged murder of a parishioner. 

The suspect is currently facing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at Panti, Yaba.

He was arrested after he administered concoction to one of his female parishioners, Ramat Audu, who died after drinking the unknown mixture.

While being paraded on Monday at the police command headquarters in Ikeja, the pastor said he only gave the deceased honey when she complained of serious cough.

According to him, "I only gave her honey when she was coughing seriously. She was brought to my church by her live-in- lover for spiritual healing. 

"After drinking the honey, she left my church but collapsed along the way and died thereafter. I did not kill her as honey is always good for cough patients."

The state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, who paraded the suspect said the command received a complaint from one Ibrahim Audu of Akeson Igando that his sister Ramat, 25, who was living with her boyfriend, Enyinna, was dead. 

He said the deceased was taken to the church by her boyfriend for healing but that the pastor gave her a concoction that killed her instead. 

He said, "In the church, Pastor Michael administered a concoction mixed with honey, lime and other things and the lady died after drinking the mixture.

"Based on the development the Divisional Police Officer, Ilemba Hausa, Mr. Musa Anim, led a team of detectives to the scene and arrested the pastor and the deceased boyfriend.

"At the scene, the police recovered native sponge, perfume, and candle sticks in the church while the corpse was deposited at Igando General Hospital for post mortem examination."

Edgal said the SCIID was investigating the matter after which the pastor and the deceased's boyfriend would be charged to court.