The Nigeria Police Force has obtained a court order to remand social media influencer Reno Omokri and others in prison over alleged defamation. Those involved include Pastor Abraham Daniel, a former Dunamis Church leader, and two members of the Enenche family—Enenche Enenche and Alexander Enenche.
The Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja, led by Chief Emmanuel A. Iyanna, approved the remand order on January 13, 2025. The application was filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, through legal representative Francis Gabriel, Esq.
The case stems from a petition submitted by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Patrick O. Okolo, accusing Reno Omokri, alongside several bloggers and individuals, of defaming Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis Church. The court has scheduled January 30, 2025, as the date for the respondents to appear.
Iyanna held: “Upon hearing the application and submissions of learned FRANCIS GABRIEL, ESQ, and upon careful consideration of the averments, the annextures and issues as raised in the submissions of the applicant. The application is hereby granted as prayed.
“It Is hereby ordered as follows: An Order of this Honourable Court for remand warrant of the Respondents (i) MR. DANIEL ABRAHAM (ii) MR. ENENCHE IDOGA ALEXANDER (iii) OBOYINLO ENENCHE PETER and (iv) MR. RENO OMOKRI in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service pending investigation, arraignment/prosecution.
“It is here ordered that the Respondents be arraigned before a Court of competent jurisdiction after the conclusion of the said investigation.
“On the return date, the Respondents should be produced.
“The matter is adjourned to 30 Day of January, 2025.”
Reports suggest that Pastor Abraham Daniel’s involvement may be connected to his resignation from the church following disagreements with Pastor Enenche. Pastor Daniel, who served at Dunamis Church for over a decade, was credited with helping grow the congregation significantly before leaving the ministry.
This case has drawn attention to the increasing legal actions surrounding defamation, especially in the digital era. With high-profile individuals and platforms involved, the upcoming court proceedings are expected to shed more light on the matter.
The source continued: “His resignation was met with stiff opposition from Pastor Enenche who tried to lure and cracked his family. Hence, his wife insisted he return back to Dunamis Church. This disagreement eventually led to their divorce.
“Shortly after leaving the church, he started receiving random threats, through calls and social media messages. On a fateful day, he was under heavy threat until he eventually had an accident that turned his car a scrap uneconomic to repair.
“He sent his location to the callers, who met him at the accident scene. The men on mufti, alongside one Barr. Abbass, all pleaded with the owner of the car. After that incident, he entered their car and they left.
“He later got to know that the men on mufti were police officers. He was taken to the Karu Police Station, where the DPO informed him that the arrest was at the instance of Pastor Paul Enenche.
“The DPO advised that he go and apologise. He tried calling Pastor Paul Enenche, but he never picked nor returned the call. He was transferred to Kubwa Division.
“After several back and forth, one Emmason called him, saying one Pst. Stanley wants to intervene in the dispute between them. He met with the Pastor Stanley at the FCID. Thereafter the officers told him to delete his Facebook page. He told them that since he is on the side on peace, he would delete it on ground that they replace his car that he lost during the arrest.”
According to the source, the parties “agreed on those terms orally and he deleted the Facebook page”.
However, the source said it was not the end of the issue.
The source said, “After deleting it, Pastor Enenche reneged on the gentleman agreement and gave him just about N200,000.00. He was so disappointed on the unilateral breach of the gentleman agreement by Pastor Paul Enenche.
“Around 3rd January, 2025, the Force Intelligence Department (FID) invited him for an interview on 7th January, 2025 on allegations bordering on cyber-bullying, criminal defamation, injurious falsehood/giving false information and inciting public nuisance.
“During the period of his arrest, he was shown some WhatsApp chats to confirm if they emanated from the him or were shared by him.
“The first borders on chats showing a dilapidated house of their only surviving aunt and calling for a better/decent accommodation for her. The second was picture of the Deborah Enenche with tattoos on her body, and asking the propriety of a pastor’s daughter with tattoo marks, etc.
“He informed the officer that he cannot recall the source of the chats, but in any case, they are all correct, as per their content.
