By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr
The calm of Magistrate Court 1 in Asaba broke into tense proceedings on Monday when Pastor Sunday Ogbogho of the Redeemed Christian Church of God was arraigned over a violent confrontation that allegedly ended with a neighbour’s head smashed by a wheel spanner.
According to the charge sheet, the incident took place on July 27, 2025, at No. 5 Elder Ediale Street, off Ibusa Road, Asaba. Prosecutors allege that Ogbogho struck one Kenneth Orusi on the head with the metal tool, inflicting bodily harm in violation of Section 355 of the Criminal Code.
The clergyman, dressed modestly in court, pleaded “not guilty” when the charge was read. His counsel, Chris, announced the presence of a surety, Engineer Pastor, a Grade Level 17 Director of Operations at the Delta State Direct Labour Agency, ready to guarantee the defendant’s appearance throughout the trial.
But the Magistrate, wary of past cases where “field-based” sureties vanished when defendants jumped bail, grilled the surety on his availability.
“When you take someone on bail, you are telling the court you will ensure they attend trial until the case is concluded. We have had situations where people vanish, and sureties claim they are working in the field. That will not be tolerated here,” the Magistrate warned.
The court eventually granted Ogbogho bail in the sum of ₦500,000, with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a civil servant of at least Grade Level 12, resident within the court’s jurisdiction, and must produce an appointment letter, promotion letter, office ID, payslip, national identity card or voter’s card, as well as passport photographs. The surety’s residence will also be verified by court and police officers.
Before adjourning the matter to August 25, 2025, for hearing, the Magistrate issued a sharp anti-corruption caution:
“In this court, justice is not for sale. Do not give money to anybody, whether court staff, someone claiming to know the magistrate, or even a lawyer, to influence justice. We do not accept money here. Do not tempt the court, and the court will not tempt you.”