On Sunday 21st June, 2020 Security agency shut down Christ Embassy Church a.ka. Loveworld in Akwa Ibom State for violation of directive / measures set aside to tackle the spread of Coronavirus in the state. It was also reported that a pastor known as Pastor Emmanuel Effiong and a videographer of the church, Mr. Gabriel Ekpa were arrested.
To this effect, the Uyo zonal headquarters of Believer’s Loveworld Inc (Christ Embassy) has approached a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to seek redress.
Report has it that the church, in a suit with registration number, FAC/UY/FHR/106/2020, is calling for the unconditional release of the duo. The State Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Ndueso Ekwere and the Chairman, COVID-19 Guidelines Monitoring Committee, Mr. Enobong Uwah, have been joined in the suit.
The church denied claims that its members attacked and brutalized officials of the state government on Sunday.
Pastor Kelvin Atang allegedly signed a statement and made it available to reporters. He is said to accused the state government of “acting on falsehood”, noting that it was even the team that assaulted the church’s videographer.
The church condemned the detention of the duo without fair hearing and attributes it to CAN “detained by the Commissioner of Police, without giving us the right to fair hearing and state that this action is borne out of malice, hatred and calculated attempt to malign the Church for disassociating herself from the Christian Association of Nigeria.”
“As a Church that respects the rule of law, we had envisaged this gang up and also took steps to seek protection of the law by approaching the Court”, the statement further reads.
