The criminal trial of former Dunamis International Gospel Centre Pastor Abraham Daniel and Peter Enenche, a relative of Dunamis Church’s Senior Pastor, Paul Enenche, has been adjourned due to the absence of the presiding magistrate, Chief Emmanuel A. Iyanna.
The trial, which was scheduled to continue on Wednesday, was stalled as the magistrate failed to appear in court. No official reason was provided for his absence.
However, sources within the court disclosed that the magistrate had rushed to the court the previous day, allegedly searching for case files related to the matter while hurriedly setting aside remand orders he had previously issued.
Reports indicate that Magistrate Iyanna appeared before a disciplinary panel to respond to a petition filed by the defendants, accusing him of abusing his office, corruption, disregarding the law and procedural guidelines, and improperly issuing remand orders.
The disputed remand order had directed the detention of the defendants — Abraham Daniel, Enenche Idoga Alexander, Peter Obonyilo Enenche, and Reno Omokri — at the Nigeria Correctional Service pending investigation and prosecution.
The order read in part: “An order of this Honourable Court for remand warrant of the Respondents — (i) Mr. Daniel Abraham, (ii) Mr. Enenche Idoga Alexander, (iii) Mr. Peter Obonyilo Enenche, and (iv) Mr. Reno Omokri in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service pending investigation, arraignment, and prosecution.
“It is hereby ordered that the Respondents be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction after the conclusion of the said investigation.”
The petition challenged the legality of the remand order, noting that it failed to specify a fixed duration for the detention, which contradicts established legal requirements that remand orders must be for a defined period, such as seven or 14 days.
Following the magistrate’s absence and the ongoing disciplinary proceedings, the trial has been adjourned to May 26, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has asked the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja to revoke the bail of Peter Enenche for allegedly violating the terms of his bail in an ongoing criminal defamation case, SaharaReporters exclusively reported earlier on Wednesday.
Peter Enenche, former Dunamis pastor Abraham Daniel, and others who remain at large are standing trial at the Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja. They are accused of criminally defaming the General Overseer of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Pastor Paul Enenche, and the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
In a motion on notice dated March 17, 2025, filed by Francis Gabriel Esq., of the Legal Prosecution Section of the Nigeria Police Force, the IGP alleged that Peter violated his bail conditions. The police chief requested an order from the court to remand Peter in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service until the conclusion of the trial.
The application was brought under Section 35(f), 44(2)Κ, and 251(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended), Section 4 of the Police Act, and several provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015), including Sections 3, 18(1)(f)(h)(i), 35, 36, 39, 47, 113, 114, 293, 162, and 173.
The IGP’s request was based on allegations that Peter had breached the terms of his bail.
This development follows a petition filed against the presiding magistrate, Chief Emmanuel A. Iyanna, by Abraham Daniel and Peter Enenche. The defendants accused the magistrate of abuse of office, disregard for the law and procedural guidelines, and improper handling of court proceedings.