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Justice Osai Ahiakwo
By Akpan David, Calabar
Church founders, pastors and other religious leaders have been cautioned to guard against religious crimes which have been widely reported in the mass media linking many of them.
A Calabar-based lawyer, Justice Osai Ahiakwo gave the advice as a guest speaker in a lecture he presented to a body of vicars, spiritual leaders and other religionists in Calabar.
The event was organised by two priestly bodies called Christ Natural Preachers and Christ Practical Students, arms of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star.
He said the law would be sterner on priests as leaders and teachers of religious precepts than their followers, if they did not refrain.
Justice Ahiakwo expressed dismay that there has been alarming acts of criminality allegedly perpetrated by priests.
He warned that these should be addressed by authorities of those religious organisations, saying such would create awareness that sin is synonymous with crime.
He cautioned against so-called men of God who hide under the belief that forgiveness is divine and therefore continued to commit religious offences, saying they were heading towards dates with secular law.
According to the legal expert, some of the offences which some religious leaders and pastors have been alleged to have committed in recent times include drug abuse, manslaughter, forgery, fraud, rape, deceits, adultery, etc.
“There have been reports that certain ‘men of God’ have allegedly been caught perpetrating such crimes like adultery, manslaughter, drug abuse, forcible entry amongst others.
“You must note that the secular law even the laws of God are no respecter of persons. This means that the offenders must, one way or another, pay for such crimes.”
Specifically, Ahiakwo enlightened that, “The action of forging, a copy or imitation of a document, signature, banknote, or work or art all consists of forgery.
“Therefore, any person who forges any document or documents, writing or seal is guilty of an offence which otherwise is a felony punishable under the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria. Section 467 of the Criminal Code Act provides for jail term of three years if found liable or guilty.”
He explained that assault is a criminal act which is liable to imprisonment for three years, quoting Sections 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, and 356 of the Criminal Code Act.
He said any priests that commit fraud even in the churches or mosques go contrary to Section 419 of 1999 Constitution.
