Condemned Preacher, Reverend King Splashes Millions On Birthday Celebration

He may have been condemned to death for killing a member of his church and causing bodily injury to others, but the devotees of the General Overseer of Christian Praying Assembly (CPA), Pastor Reverend Chukwuemeka Ezeuko a.k.a Reverend King have not given up on him and have continued to mystify and celebrate him. Many of the posters of the church's progarmmes still bears the pictures of the acclaimed 'man of God' and his being in prison has not stopped them from going extra miles to celebrate him.

Just recently, members of the church bombarded the Sunday February 26, 2012 edition of Thisday Newspaper with more than six pages of congratulatory messages for their idol pastor and they went to the extent of comparing him to the Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the messages read; “With great and heart filled joy, I congratulate our ageless father, His Holiness, The Most Honourable Doctor Reverend King on this special day of his life, Daddy Happy Birthday.”

He was referred to as an enigma, who is wonderful, marvelous, adding that “you shall live forever in Jesus name.” Another message, which was signed by about 10 members of Reverend King's church, read, “No matter the conspiracy, no matter the gossip and scandal, we know you are 100% innocent. Daddy, we love you. We will follow you forever and forever in Jesus Name, Amen.” In another instance they said; “Our Daddy is growing younger every year. Happy Birthday Sir, we are proud of you, we love you. You shall live forever in Jesus Name. Amen.”

A special service was said to have been held for Reverend King in the church to mark the birthday and millions of naira was allegedly spent to host scores of visitors, who were invited to the event. Members of the church reportedly sang praises to God and said with utmost conviction that the 'man of God' would soon be set free and would 'unite with us after his travails in the hands of his persecutors.'

Discerning minds however, condemned a newspaper of the repute of Thisday Newspaper for allowing congratulatory adverts of a condemned man in their paper, no matter the amount of money involved.

A member of the church, who spoke with First Weekly under anonymity, said that the 'man of God' is innocent of the charges brought against him, adding that he would soon be set free by the Appeal Court.

Reverend King was sentenced to death by an Ikeja High Court presided by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, who found him guilty of murder charges preferred against him by the police.

The court ruled that he should die by hanging. Justice Oyewole found the cleric guilty on the first 5-count charge and sentenced him to prison for 20 years on each count.

On the sixth count, the judge found him guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging. Rev. King was first arraigned at an Ebute-Meta Magistrate's Court along with two other persons on a 12-count charge of murder and attempted murder of seven of his church members on 2 July, 2006. The matter was, however, transferred to the Ikeja High court on the advice of the Directorate for Public Prosecution (DPP) on the ground that the magistrate's court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case since it involved a capital offence. In September last year when the matter commenced de novo, Rev. King pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge brought against him by the DPP but was denied bail by the presiding judge justice Olubunmi Oyewole.

The prosecution led by Mrs. Bola Ighile called about 12 witnesses amongst who were some victims of Rev. King alleged callous act. They included Olisa Chiejina, Chizoba, Uche Chukwu Iwoba, Vivian Ezeocha, Bunmi Olisa and Nwere Jesica. In their evidence in chief, they told the court how on 2 July, 2006 at Canal View Street, Ajao Estate, Rev. King set fire on seven of them over an allegation that they were committing fornication in his house. Vivian Ezeocha and Kelechi King, the principal witnesses narrated to the court how the accused turned them to sex toys by subjecting them to inhuman sex orgies.

Kelechi King in her gory account told the court how she had aborted four pregnancies for the heavily bearded self-acclaimed “God”. She also told the court some startling revelations of how the accused made her denounce her family and how she served him as his maid stark naked. On the incident that lead to the death of Ann King, almost all the prosecution witnesses corroborated the fact that Rev. King actually set them on fire by pouring fuel on them. They also told the court that on the said date, Rev. King gathered them together in his house over allegations that they were committing fornication in his house, an allegation they all denied.

They further affirmed that as a way of punishing them, Rev. King poured fuel on them and set them ablaze. Another prosecution witness Olisa Chiejina, told the court how the accused operated a “Lord Army”, an outfit he said Rev. King uses to intimidate and harass members of his church. In his defence, over six witnesses disputed the allegations brought against Rev. King by painting a picture of how good and fatherly the accused is. At the conclusion of trial which lasted a record 104 days, the defence counsel led by Mr. Mike Okoye urged the court to discharge and acquit Rev. King on the ground that the evidences before the court did not in any way link his client to the death of Ann King.

March 12, 2012