Celestial Church Distances Self from Pastor Arrested Over Alleged Drug Possession
The Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide has distanced itself from Afolabi Hodonu, who was recently arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency alongside his wife over alleged possession of illicit drugs.
Hodonu and his wife were reportedly arrested at the Gbaji checkpoint in Lagos, where about 11 kilograms of skunk were allegedly recovered from hidden compartments in their vehicle.
The suspect had claimed to be the shepherd in charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Agonvi Sea Beach, located in the Sakpo area of Seme border, Badagry.
According to the NDLEA, the arrest of the couple followed an earlier operation at the same checkpoint on March 30, when operatives apprehended a suspected fake security agent, Sunday Samuel, aged 35, who was allegedly transporting 24.5 kilograms of skunk from Seme border to Lagos.
Investigations into that earlier seizure were said to have led to the arrest of Hodonu and his wife as part of ongoing anti-narcotics operations across the country.
Reacting to the development, the Head of Media and Publicity of the church, Kayode Ajala, stated that administrative records show that Hodonu and his wife are not affiliated with the Ketu mainstream of the Celestial Church of Christ under the leadership of Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa.
Ajala expressed concern that the name of the church had been unnecessarily dragged into the controversy, describing the situation as a “despicable act.”
He further disclosed that the church would deploy a task force to the Seme area of Badagry to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident.
According to him, the move is part of efforts to clarify the situation and protect the integrity of the church
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