The government of Akwa Ibom State has dropped the charges against Emmanuel Effiong, a pastor of Christ Embassy Church in Uyo, the state capital.
On Sunday 21 June, Effiong and a church videographer were arrested for allegedly assaulting the state’s COVID-19 monitoring team. They were accused of attacking the officials who were out to ensure that all religious centers followed the guidelines of COVID-19. Both men had been arrested after they sealed the church.
The State Information Commissioner, Charles Udoh, said in a statement released that the decision of the state government to drop the charges against Effiong was accompanied by entreaties from well-meaning citizens and organisations. He added that the church and the pastor also offered the state government an unreserved apology and pledged to adhere to all the guidelines and protocols adopted to prevent the novel Coronavirus from spreading to the state through community infections.
“Following entreaties from well-meaning individuals and groups, the Akwa Ibom State Government has dropped charges against Pastor Emmanuel Effiong of Christ Embassy Church, Nung Akpa Ime branch, off Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo.
The church and the pastor have since tendered an unreserved apology to the state government while promising to adhere to the Akwa Ibom State Government/Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)/World Health Organisation (WHO)/Christian Association (CAN) Guidelines and Protocols adopted to prevent community spreading of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in Akwa Ibom State.
All churches are reminded of the need to ensure strict adherence to all stipulated guidelines” the statement read.
