Police Quiz Judge over Assault on RCCG Pastor

The Police in Ondo State have begun investigation into an alleged assault of the Assistant Pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Glory Tabernacle Parish in Ijapo, Akure, the state capital, Mrs. Felicia Akindurotoye, by a judge of the Akure Division of Court of Appeal, Justice Folayemi Omoleye, during a church service last Wednesday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, who disclosed the efforts of the police to get to the root of the matter, said officers of the command led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ijapo, had visited the judge and quizzed her about the incident.

An eye witness said the serving judge, whose residence was located beside the church, had entered into the church during a midweek ‘Divine Encounter’ service and started recording the service.

The action of the judge was however challenged by the pastor for entering into the church.

It was however, gathered that the judge had several times complained that the activities of the church had been causing ‘environmental’ pollution in the area.

The protest of the pastors and members of the church was said to have led to arguments during which the judge allegedly slapped the 68-year-old assistant pastor who got injured in the process.

"We were in a ‘Divine Encounter’ service which normally holds every Wednesday between 10 and 12 p.m. The woman (judge) entered into the church building and started recording the church's activities.

"The judge slapped a 68-year-old woman and one of the pastors who tried to advise her not to disrupt the church service. When the woman fell down, the judge started beating her with her footwear. The woman got injured and was rushed to the hospital," a witness said.

Confirming the incident, Pastor Idris Umar of RCCG Region 22 in the state said the church had directed its lawyer to write a petition against the judge for ‘her dishonourable action’ by slapping and beating a 68-year-old Assistant Pastor of the church, Mrs. Felicia Akindurojoye, and another Parish Pastor, Felix Solomon, during last Wednesday’s ‘Divine Encounter’ service.

According to him, "The woman was rushed to the state Specialist Hospital for treatment while Solomon didn’t sustain serious injury."

Umar said the petition would be forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for further investigation into the matter.