Celestial Church Denies Link To Pastor And Wife Arrested With Drugs At Seme Border, Badagry
OpenLife reports that the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide has officially clarified that a couple recently arrested with illegal drugs at the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos State, are not affiliated with its recognized leadership.
Pastor Afolabi Hodonu and his wife, Success Hodonu, were apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Gbaji checkpoint while allegedly transporting 11 kilograms of skunk hidden in their vehicle. Hodonu had claimed to be the Shepherd in charge of the Agonvi Sea Beach parish in the Sakpo area along the Seme border.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi explained that the arrest was part of a larger crackdown on drug trafficking. “The apprehension of a fake security agent, Sunday Samuel, 35, at the same checkpoint on Monday, 30th March, while conveying 24.5kg skunk from Seme border to Lagos,” he said.
“The development was part of a series of operations conducted by the anti-narcotics agency across the country within the past week.”
In response to public attention and the misuse of the church’s name, Kayode Ajala, Head of Media and Publicity for the Celestial Church, expressed concern over the situation. “The administrative records confirm that the said Shepherd, Afolabi Hodonu and his wife, Success Hodonu, do not belong to the Ketu mainstream of Celestial Church of Christ under the leadership of His Eminence, Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa,” he said.
Ajala further described the incident as a “despicable act” and hinted at the church’s apology, noting the need to protect its reputation. “Having said that and given the fact that the name of the Celestial Church of Christ has been dragged into this despicable act, we shall dispatch our Task Force Corps to Seme, Badagry, for a fact-finding mission of the unfolding situation,” he added.
The church’s swift response reflects its effort to distance itself from the controversy while NDLEA continues its investigations.
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