The Presiding Pastor of the renowned House on the Rock church in Abuja, Uche Aigbe, who is currently facing charges related to illegal firearms possession, has approached the Federal Capital Territory High Court to request a review of his ongoing trial.
Aigbe, along with co-accused Olakunle Ogunleye and Promise Ukachukwu, was initially arraigned by the police in 2023 on charges that included possession of a prohibited firearm, inciting disturbance, and abetting illegal possession of a firearm.
The arraignment took place before the FCT Magistrates’ Court in Zuba, presided over by Magistrate Mohammed Ismail.
The controversy surrounding Aigbe began when he made headlines in February 2023 for brandishing an AK-47 rifle during a Sunday church service to illustrate his sermon titled “Guarding Your Faith.”
According to the police, Aigbe’s actions were in violation of Section 3 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 of the Law of the Federation.
During the recent session at the FCT High Court, Aigbe’s legal counsel, P.H. Ogbole (SAN), filed a Motion on Notice seeking a judicial review of the proceedings that took place at the lower court.
Ogbole argued that issues of jurisdiction had been raised, urging the court to grant their plea.
In the Motion on Notice, marked as M/13706/2023, the lawyer alleged that the magistrates’ court had infringed upon their fundamental right to a fair hearing during one of the proceedings.
Ogbole stated, “The proceedings of March 28, 2023, at the Zuba Magistrates’ Court, in which the magistrate interfered with the case, were wrongful, displayed a clear misapplication of the law, and violated our clients’ fundamental right to a fair hearing.”
Consequently, he requested the high court to declare, among other things, “that the proceedings of June 19, 2023, at the magistrates’ court, where the magistrate admitted a compact disc as an exhibit without viewing its content in open court, were wrongful, displayed a clear misapplication of the law, and violated our clients’ fundamental right to a fair hearing.”
However, the counsel for the Commissioner of Police, Inah Umoh, urged the court to dismiss the application, suggesting that the lower court should proceed with the matter.
Umoh argued, “The purpose of a judicial review is to demonstrate that the trial court exceeded its jurisdiction. In this case, Section 27(4) and (5) grant the court the jurisdiction to try such offenses summarily.”
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, after considering the arguments presented by both legal teams, has scheduled May 15 for the ruling on the application.