Why Court Ordered Reno Omokri’s Arrest

• Reno Omokri and others were arrested by Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna, with Alexander and Peter Enenche as respondents, following a motion by the Inspector General of Police.

• Court records indicate that the accused will be in custody until their arraignment and trial date of January 30, 2025.

A Magistrate Court in Abuja has issued a remand order for former presidential aide Reno Omokri and three other individuals, including former Dunamis Church Pastor Abraham Daniel, in connection with allegations of defamation and cyberbullying directed at Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis International Gospel Centre.

The arrest warrant for Reno Omokri and the others, authorized by Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna on January 13, 2025, also named Alexander Enenche and Peter Enenche as respondents. This judicial action followed an ex-parte motion submitted by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, requesting the detention of the suspects to facilitate ongoing investigations.

Court documents indicate that the accused individuals are to remain in custody until their arraignment and trial, which is scheduled for January 30, 2025.

The legal actions arise from a petition lodged by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Patrick O. Okolo, who claims that Reno Omokri and his co-defendants participated in cyber harassment, criminal defamation, and disseminating false information, purportedly aimed at inciting public disorder.

The tensions reportedly escalated after Pastor Abraham Daniel’s resignation from Dunamis Church, where he had served for over a decade, citing personal conflicts with Pastor Paul Enenche. Sources suggest that Daniel experienced threats and intimidation, leading to a car accident and his subsequent arrest by plainclothes officers allegedly acting under Pastor Enenche’s directives.

Pastor Daniel has further claimed that he was pressured into issuing a public apology and removing social media posts critical of Dunamis Church. Although a settlement was reached, the agreed-upon compensation terms were reportedly not fulfilled, exacerbating the situation.

Investigations by the police have also encompassed Reno Omokri’s social media activities, which include posts related to the internal matters of Dunamis Church. The findings of this investigation will influence the formal charges to be brought against the respondents.