…issues threat on my life and family
In a significant legal development, Pastor Sunday Ogbogho of the Redeemed Christian Church of God has suffered a major setback in a civil lawsuit he filed against one of his tenants, Mr. Kenneth Orusi at the Oshimili South Area Customary Court III, sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
According to court records certified on June 24, 2025, the suit, numbered OSCC/III/72/2025, was struck out by the court due to the plaintiff’s repeated absence and failure to diligently prosecute the case.
The matter had first come up for hearing on April 24, 2025, where Pastor Ogbogho neither his counsel failed to appear before the court.
In what appeared to be a generous move, the court adjourned the case to June 26, 2025, providing the plaintiff another opportunity to substantiate his claims.
However, in a surprising turn, the plaintiff once again failed to show up, neither in person nor through legal representation, prompting the court to strike out the matter entirely.
The defendant, Mr. Orusi, was present and ready to proceed on both occasions.
The three-member panel, chaired by D.O. Oghome Esq., with members Mrs. Igboh Winnie I. and Mrs. Nmah Leticia A, ruled that the plaintiff had demonstrated no commitment to pursue his claims and thus forfeited his right to have the case heard.
Legal observers have described the outcome as a self-inflicted defeat and a warning to litigants who approach the courts without seriousness.
“The judiciary is not a space for theatrics or symbolic gestures,” said Barr. C. Obi, a legal commentator based in Asaba.
“When a litigant, particularly a public or religious figure, files a case and repeatedly refuses to show up, it undermines the integrity of the legal process.”
While the dispute remain tenancy issue, the high-profile nature of Pastor Ogbogho’s role within the Redeemed Christian Church of God has stirred public interest.
The outcome is viewed by some as a blow to his credibility, especially given the moral expectations associated with his religious standing.
For Kenneth Orusi, the defendant, the ruling is a vindication. He maintained a consistent presence in court and complied fully with judicial procedures.
As of the time of this report, Pastor Ogbogho has not issued an official response to the judgment.
The court’s decision sends a strong message about accountability, even for those in clerical robes: justice is available, but it demands seriousness, not status.
It is on record that proceedings in the tenancy dispute between the claimant, (Plaintiff), Pastor Sunday Ogbogho of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and his tenant were initially stalled due to the absence of the Presiding Chairman and members of Asaba Customary Court 3, on February 25.
The matter was thereafter adjourned to the 24th of April, 2025, for hearing.
However, on the said adjourned date, the claimant failed to appear before the court, prompting a further adjournment of the case to the 26th of June, 2025.
At the resumed hearing on June 26, 2025, the claimant was once again absent without explanation.
Consequently, the Presiding Chairman, sitting with two other panel members, struck out the suit for want of diligent prosecution and the claimant’s persistent failure to attend court.
Meanwhile, in a recent and deeply concerning development, Pastor Ogbogho Sunday has issued threats against the life of the defendant and the lives of his family members.
On Saturday, July 5, 2025, Pastor Ogbogho told the defendant that “the trouble you are looking for, when you see it, you will be the one to run.”
On the same day, he also directed a similar threat at his wife, stating that “what you and your husband are looking for, you will both see it.”
I am using this medium to urgently call on the Nigerian Police Force, ‘B’ Division, Abraka, in Oshimili South Local Government Area, as well as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, to investigate this matter and call Pastor Ogbogho Sunday to order as our lives are no longer safe.
For the avoidance of doubt, I hereby publicly state that should anything untoward happen to me or any member of my family, Pastor Ogbogho Sunday should be held accountable.
