Court Pushes Forward Trial of Ex-Dunamis Pastor, Peter Enenche Over Alleged Defamation of Paul Enenche
According to a court notice dated April 14 and signed by the registrar, the new hearing date was communicated to all parties involved, replacing the earlier adjournment date of May 26.
Both defendants, who had been remanded at the Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa State before being granted bail, are facing charges over alleged criminal defamation against Pastor Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
IGP Seeks Revocation of Bail Over Alleged Breach
The shift in date follows a motion filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, asking the court to revoke Peter Enenche’s bail, citing a violation of bail conditions. In a court application filed on March 17 by police counsel Francis Gabriel, the IGP alleged that Peter continued to post defamatory content online despite court restrictions.
The application was supported by multiple legal provisions including sections of the 1999 Constitution, Police Act, and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. It requested that Peter Enenche be remanded by the Nigeria Correctional Service until the trial concludes.
Defendants Petition Magistrate for Alleged Judicial Misconduct
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters gathered that both defendants, Abraham Daniel and Peter Enenche, have filed a petition against the presiding magistrate, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel A. Iyanna, accusing him of misconduct, abuse of court process, and failure to follow legal procedures.
The petition was filed amidst claims that Peter Enenche continued to publish statements concerning the trial and its key figures—including Pastor Enenche—on Facebook, WhatsApp, and other platforms, in alleged contempt of the court.
According to the police application, “The 1st Defendant, while on bail, made further defamatory posts online against Pastor Paul Enenche and even commented publicly on the ongoing case with the intent of undermining court proceedings.”
The motion emphasized that under ACJA 2015, the court is empowered to revoke bail if the defendant engages in new criminal acts while released.
Police Seek Three Main Orders from Court
The IGP’s motion seeks the following reliefs:
- Revocation of bail granted to Peter Enenche for allegedly breaching bail terms.
- Remand order placing Peter Enenche in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service pending the trial’s conclusion.
- Any additional orders the court deems necessary to preserve the integrity of justice.
What’s Next?
With the next court date now moved to April 25, legal observers and members of the public await further developments in a case that continues to stir debate within Nigeria’s religious and legal communities.
