A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Magistrate Court has vacated the remand order against Reno Omokri, a bestselling author and former presidential spokesman, in a case filed by Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis International Gospel Centre.
The court had earlier issued the remand order without prior notification to Omokri.
However, following an appeal by his legal representatives, Osa Director & Co., the presiding Chief Magistrate, Chief Emmanuel Iyanna, ordered the removal of Omokri’s name from the First Information Report (FIR) during a hearing on January 30, 2025.
Omokri’s legal team expressed strong disapproval of the manner in which the remand order was obtained, calling it “unchristian” and “beneath the character of a pastor” to secretly seek such an order without informing the accused.
The legal team said that Omokri himself only learned of the development through a gossip blog.
Reacting to the case, Omokri reaffirmed his stance that Pastor Enenche and his wife, Dr. Becky Enenche in their roles as religious leaders.
He accused the pastor of openly engaging in partisan politics during the 2023 Nigerian elections by using the church as a campaign platform for Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi.
According to Omokri, Enenche’s conduct would not have been tolerated if a Muslim cleric had done the same.
He referenced the pastor’s call for his congregation to “tell their friends and relatives what to vote” while displaying images and symbols of preferred candidates.
Omokri argued that such actions violated the Electoral Act, as well as Dunamis Church’s registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, which restricts it to ecclesiastical activities.
Furthermore, Omokri criticized Pastor Enenche’s remarks about the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, now President Bola Tinubu, calling them inflammatory and capable of inciting religious discord in Nigeria’s multiethnic and religiously diverse society.
He asserted that in countries like the U.S. or the U.K., a religious leader engaging in such political endorsements would risk losing their preaching license and tax-exempt status.
Beyond political involvement, Omokri also took issue with Pastor Enenche’s wife, Dr. Becky Enenche, for her controversial statement that missing tithes nullifies previous contributions.
He described this as an attempt to manipulate Christians financially, arguing that it contradicts biblical teachings.
Omokri pointed out that Peter Obi, whom Pastor Enenche actively supported, is a Catholic who does not practise tithing.
He questioned the logic of urging Christians to vote for a non-tithing candidate while preaching that non-tithers cannot prosper.
Referencing biblical texts, Omokri emphasized that tithes in Scripture were an agricultural levy meant for the Levites, who had no land inheritance.
He argued that monetary tithes are not biblically mandated and accused certain pastors of commercializing Christianity for financial gain.
Despite the court’s decision to vacate the remand order, Omokri’s lawyers indicated that he remains prepared to challenge Pastor Enenche in court if the matter proceeds further.
– The Nation
