A Catholic priest in charge of St. Theresa Parish, Mmaku, near Enugu, Rev. Father James Ani was Friday arraigned before a Magistrate court allegedly on the orders of the diocesan bishop, Rt. Rev. John Okoye.
Ani and three others were arraigned for armed robbery, assault and unlawful attempt to kill one Inspector Cosmos Nzeribe and a team of police officers of police headquarters Enugu.
They were also charged attempted kidnap, unlawful damage of a Toyota Corolla car belonging to the police, as well as robbing Inspector Nzeribe of his 18-round service pistol with live ammunition.
The parishioners however accused Bishop Okoye of masterminding the arrest and prosecution of Father Ani over his opposition to alleged attempts by the bishop to convert a church property into his.
They also blame the crisis on a particular “Sister” (names with-held) they claimed dishes threats to parishioners because of her love affair with a highly connected Abuja-based bishop of the church.
When the matter came up for hearing, the presiding Magistrate, E.M Egumgbe remanded the suspects in prison. The judge held that only a high court could grant bail to the accused considering the gravity of the charges.
Ani’s lawyer, Mr. Ray Nnaji told journalists after the session that his client was framed up by the powerful bishops.
According to the lawyer, the attacks on the policemen was carried out by unknown aggrieved parishioners, and did not have the support of the priest.
“What gave rise to the police being manhandled; what gave rise to police vehicle being destroyed; it is a problem in the church, the Rev. Father had problems with the bishop and the police brought themselves personally into the arena of conflict and it gave rise to all these problems,” explained Nnaji.
The lawyer claimed the police seized the opportunity of the attack on their men to manhandle Father Ani, and stripping him naked while denying him access to lawyers.