In a disturbing turn of events, Prophet Dr. Godwin Ikuru, the General Overseer of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, was reportedly abducted by unknown persons believed to be police operatives on his way to the Federal High Court where he was scheduled to appear for a human rights violation case on Wednesday.
The clergyman, who recently instituted a ₦5 billion lawsuit against top government and police officials, including a presidential aide and senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force, mysteriously disappeared hours before the court hearing. The incident has sparked outrage, confusion, and emotional turmoil within his family and religious community.
According to his wife, who spoke to reporters in tears, the Prophet was last seen leaving home determined to face his legal battle. Instead, the day turned tragic when family members received distressing news that he had been intercepted and taken to an undisclosed location.
“This country is becoming a place where justice is silenced by force. How can they kidnap someone just to stop him from going to court? Is this how low we’ve fallen?” she lamented. “My husband has done no wrong. He only seeks justice. I know God will fight this battle for us.”
The cleric’s legal action, filed at the Federal High Court, names the following as defendants: ASP Kamorudeen Olawale Yusuf, a presidential aide; the Inspector General of Police; Barrister Mrs. Abibat Bankole; and DCP Akin Fakorede, head of the IGP Monitoring Unit.
The suit accuses them of unlawful arrest, intimidation, and a coordinated attempt to stifle the Prophet’s voice through the abuse of state power. Dr. Ikuru is seeking ₦5 billion in damages for the emotional, psychological, and reputational damage he has suffered.
Court documents state:
> “The actions of the respondents amount to a grave violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights as enshrined in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
Though the exact details of the confrontation that led to the Prophet’s legal suit remain sketchy, insiders claim that he had been targeted following a recent altercation with operatives allegedly working under the IGP’s Monitoring Unit.
Meanwhile, courtroom observers and human rights activists were left stunned today as the hearing failed to commence in the absence of the Prophet. His lawyers condemned the development as an open display of impunity and called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
“This is nothing short of state-backed intimidation,” one of the legal representatives said. “We demand his immediate release and protection. This case is not just about one man; it’s about whether citizens can still seek redress in a court of law without fear of abduction or silencing.”
As the whereabouts of Prophet Ikuru remain unknown, Nigerians are watching closely. The question on many lips: Is the law still supreme, or has it become a tool for those in power to trample the weak?
