Senior Pastor Ike J. Monye of the Temple of Glory Church in Abuja has appealed to President Bola Tinubu, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, the FCT Minister Wike, and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) to intervene following the demolition of church structures by officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
Monye made the appeal in a live video posted on his Facebook page, which The News Chronicle obtained, accusing the FCDA and the FCT Department of Development Control of disregarding the rule of law and insisting that litigation over the property was still ongoing.
According to him, officials of the FCDA returned to the property with police personnel to fence the premises and take possession, despite the pending court case.
“They came with police again to try to take over the place and put a fence. While the matter is in court? They are doing this because court is on recess. We are in the middle and in the midst of getting an injunction to stop them. But they came, and they want to take it by force.
“See how much destruction while the matter is in court. They have resorted to self-help by force,” Monye said.
Monye, who identified himself as a lawyer, maintained that the church had been the legal occupant of the property for the past 12 years and had managed the premises during that period.
Photo Caption: Demolished Temple of Glory Church in Abuja
“We are legal occupants of this place. The matter is in court. But impunity is overtaking our country. Under the rule of law, this is not a military administration,” he said.
He alleged that powerful interests were seeking to take over the property and urged the authorities to allow the court to determine the dispute.
“There are powerful people who want our land. The matter is in court. If they are right, let the matter play out in court. But what are they doing? They want to use force. They want to use instruments of force and coercion because they are in authority and in power,” Monye alleged.
The clergyman appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, saying he had previously spoken to him about the matter.
He also appealed to President Tinubu to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.
“Sir, you swore to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. I’m appealing to you,” he said.
Monye equally appealed to the First Lady, whom he described as a pastor, to intervene in the dispute.
VIDEO LINK: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BuPs9WXXd/
“Dear First Lady, you are a pastor. They demolished our church while the matter is in court, and we are appealing to you. We must not allow this lawlessness. People cannot just like your land and take it by force,” he said.
He called on the PFN, civil society organisations and human rights groups to speak out over the development.
Monye also appealed to the American Embassy to join efforts to protect what he described as the weaker party in the dispute.
He alleged that the demolition had caused billions of naira in damage and accused the authorities of returning to the property to fence it off and force the church out.
“Injustice to one person is injustice to all. Today it may be us, but tomorrow it may be you. We must be able to uphold the rule of law,” Monye said as he urged all Nigerians to speak up on the matter.
