A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the remand of the founder of the Prophetic Victory Voice of Fire Ministry, Pastor Amos Isah, over the alleged rape of a 14-year-old church member.

Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi directed that the 39-year-old cleric be kept in custody pending the submission of his previous bail records.

The decision followed the resumption of the high-profile trial on Thursday.

Isah, whose church is located in the Gwagwalada Area Council, pleaded not guilty to the eight charges brought against him, including rape under the Child’s Rights Act 2003, sexual exploitation, coercion, emotional and psychological abuse, gross indecency, and the abduction of a minor.

The prosecution alleged that the teenage survivor, identified as B.Z.J., was lured by the cleric into the church’s newly constructed auditorium on May 26, 2025.

The charge sheet, marked FCT/HC/CR/467/2024, stated that Isah locked the doors and forcefully had sexual intercourse with the minor without her consent.

Count one of the charges reads, “That you, APOSTLE AMOS ISAH (39 years), male, of Behind Federal Road Safety, Gwagwalada, Abuja, on or about the 26th day of May, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an illegal act to wit: rape. You lured one B.Z.J.

(14 years old), Female, of Plot Gwagwalada, Abuja, into your office at Prophet Victory Voice Fire Ministry International Church, Gwagwalada, Abuja, and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her without her consent. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 31(1) of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003, and punishable under Section 31(2) of the same law.”

Following the alleged assault, the amended charge sheet revealed that Isah reportedly handed the victim N3,000 to purchase medication.

He allegedly followed the gesture with a death threat, vowing to kill the survivor and her entire family if she disclosed the incident to anyone.

The court further heard that the defendant’s actions also constituted gross indecency without consent, contrary to Section 285 of the Penal Code Laws.

Justice Osho-Adebiyi thereafter adjourned the matter until June 30, 2026, for continuation of hearing.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a large consignment of Canadian Loud, a high-potency strain of cannabis, weighing 4,173.5 kilograms, with an estimated street value of N10.43bn at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

The agency said the seizure followed months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and tracking of the shipment, which originated from Toronto, Canada, on March 28, 2026.

In a statement on Wednesday, the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the container was moved by rail to Montreal before being shipped on board the vessel Jakarta Express Voyage, which arrived at Tanger Med Port in Morocco on April 15.

He added that the shipment was later transferred to another vessel, Osaka Voyage, which eventually arrived at the Lagos Port on May 9.

According to the agency, its Marine Intelligence Unit and Tincan Island Strategic Command monitored the consignment for over two months in collaboration with international partners, including the United Kingdom Home Office International Operations, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

“The successful interdiction of the illicit drug consignment followed painstaking intelligence gathering, sustained surveillance, and trailing of the container from its point of departure in Toronto,” the statement partly read.

Babafemi said the drugs were eventually seized on Tuesday, May 12, during a joint examination involving NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies.

He explained that the drugs were concealed inside a used Ford bus and a Mercedes-Benz C300 car loaded within the shipping container.

Speaking during the handover of the exhibits by the Customs Service at the port on Wednesday, NDLEA Director of Seaports Operations, Ibinabo Archie-Abia, said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency and international collaboration in combating transnational drug trafficking.

The seizure came just days after NDLEA operatives raided a mansion in Lekki, Lagos, allegedly used as a stash house, where 2,326 kilograms of the same substance, valued at over N5.8bn, were recovered.

Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and vigilance.

Marwa said the repeated interceptions indicated a coordinated attempt by international drug syndicates to flood Nigeria with synthetic cannabis strains.

“This second massive seizure in less than a week is a clear message to international syndicates who think they can use our ports as entry points for their illicit trade. The synergy between NDLEA, Customs, and our international partners is yielding results,” he said.

He added that the agency would continue efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks linked to the shipments and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

The Ondo State Police Command on Wednesday said it had deployed operatives to Akotogbo community in Irele Local Government Area of the state following the discovery of the bodies of two residents in a bush within the area.

The deceased, identified as Loyinmi Bode and Andrew Friday, were reportedly found at separate locations within the community in incidents that occurred within a month.

The development has thrown the agrarian community into fear and tension, with residents calling for urgent intervention by security agencies and the state government.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said the command was aware of the situation and had taken steps to restore calm.

“The command is fully aware of these developments and remains resolute in its constitutional mandate of protecting the lives and property of all law-abiding residents of Ondo State,” he said.

He added that robust security measures had been put in place within Akotogbo and neighbouring communities to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

“In response, robust security measures have been emplaced within Akotogbo and its adjoining communities to prevent any breakdown of law and order and ensure sustained public safety,” Jimoh said.

The police spokesperson also noted that efforts were ongoing to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the deaths.

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