A young Nigerian man identified as Martins Onah Monday has been arrested by the police operatives after sharing testimony in church.
He is currently being detained the Ikoyi Police Station after he gave a testimony in church.
He was arrested on the orders of the Pastor of Trinity Temple, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Martins is a member of Trinity Temple, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ikoyi, Lagos.
On March 20, 2022, he invited some of his friends to the church as new members and it was on that same day they shared testimonies during the Sunday service.
Shockingly, during the church service, police officers stormed the church and arrested Martins and his friends.
They were later to learn that they were arrested in connection with a theft that occurred in the church on December 26, 2021.
The victim’s brother, Kingsley said, “My brother, Martins Onah went to church and invited his friends as new members in the church. At the church, everybody was giving testimonies, he and his friends did too, he was the last person to share a testimony.
“The police came and arrested those he invited to the church, then they said he must follow them too to the police station. They took them from church on Sunday morning around 10 or 11 am and took them to the police station, they’re currently locked in the place till now.
“They Said They Stole Church Equipments”
The allegation against Martins and his friends brought on by the Pastor is that on December 26, some people robbed the church and took all the instruments.
So when Martins and his friends attended church on Sunday, March 20, the pastor said he hadn’t seen them before that they were strange faces.
Hence the basis of the arrest. The church pastor said he was seeing Martins and his friends for the first time and suspected that they had carried out the theft on the said date.
In fact, that was the only proof of suspicion that the Pastor had against the victim and his friends.
According to Martin’s brother, Kingsley, he is a regular member of the church.
According to Kingsley, the pastor is claiming Martins is part of those who robbed the church on December 26 whereas, on December 17, their dad passed on so Martins Onah and my other brother took my dad’s corpse to the village so he was not even in Lagos at that time.
Martins not only took the corpse to the village, but he also remained there for the burial till January 2022.
Martins returned to Lagos in February 2022 and was at the church on Sunday, March 20 to share the testimony of the success of the burial, only for them to arrest him.
Kingsley further told disclosed that the case was initially transferred to Area F, Police Command, Ikeja but was later transferred back to Ikoyi Police Station for lack of substance.
He said the police had however insisted that only a letter from the church can ensure the release of Martins as he cannot be released on bail — though three of his friends have regained freedom.
“I don’t understand the pastor and why he’s insisting he does not know my brother. He does not even have the right to lock my brother up. These people have no evidence that my brother invaded their church, this is defamation of character and abuse of his rights.
“Meanwhile, the police had earlier mentioned N20, 000 bail and I was like okay, let me go and bail my brother because he has committed no offense but when I got there, they said my brother cannot be released on bail without a letter from the church.
“Till now, my brother is still in the cell. The confusing part is that the person who locked him up is not showing his face. The church had sent one of their ushers to come to the police station and free the detained persons. The usher came but the police said the letter the usher brought was not the correct one, asking the person to bring another. So, this person who locked up my brother has remained anonymous.”
