Eight Nigerian ‘Pastors’ Arraigned Over Alleged Violation Of State Law

The Anambra State Government has arraigned eight pastors arrested in Onitsha, Awka and other parts of the state for allegedly violating the 2025 Homeland Security Law.

Naija News reports that the clerics were arraigned on Friday at the state judiciary complex in Awka, the state capital.

The Media Adviser to the Anambra State Governor, Ejimofor Opara, disclosed this in a statement, describing the suspects as “fake pastors.”

According to Opara, the pastors were arrested for practices considered to be in breach of the state’s Homeland Security Law, which came into effect in February 2025.

The state government said the law frowns at certain forms of religious practices considered harmful to the public, especially those linked to claims of instant wealth creation.

The government noted that the latest arraignment formed part of its wider effort to curb practices it said exploit residents and promote get-rich-quick beliefs under religious or spiritual cover.

The development comes months after some native doctors accused of promoting get-rich-quick practices were arrested in the state.

While some of those arrested last year have been prosecuted and jailed, others are still facing trial.

The eight pastors arraigned before the court were identified as Peter Chukwu, Chinedu Egwuonwu, Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, Ebele Nnachukwu and Ekeleme Chris Ugochukwu.

Others are Ndubisi Nnachukwu, Miracle Iruoma and Chukwukadibia Ogwuama.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, is leading the prosecution against the defendants.

The state government maintained that enforcement of the Homeland Security Law would continue as part of efforts to protect residents from practices considered dangerous to public order, safety and morality.

It said the law was introduced to check activities capable of misleading the public, encouraging criminality or promoting false claims around wealth creation.