Warri Bishop Sunny Jero Cleared Of Funding NDA Militants , 2 Arrested For Giving Police False Info

The Delta State Police Command on Thursday arraigned
two suspects for false information when they had
claimed that a Bishop of a new generation church in
Warri was sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers.
The Punch had on Wednesday exclusively reported that
the bishop who is the founder the New Salvation Church
of Christ in Igbodi area of Warri, Bishop Sunny Jero, was
being interrogated by police detectives from the Warri
area command over an allegation linking the pastor with
the militant group.
The report generated uproar leading to the arrest of the
petitioners for false accusation against the man of God.
They were arraigned on a one-count charge of false
accusation, an offence punishable under Section 125 of
the Criminal Code Cap c21 of Delta State.
Also, a statement issued on Thursday by the Police
Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Command, SP
Celestina Kalu, exonerated the pastor from the allegation
after his house and church were searched by security
operatives and nothing was found.
At Thursday arraignment of the two suspects- Smart
Etiemor and Robinson Dagbolo before a Warri South
Chief magistrate court, the prosecution counsel, ASP
Sunny Irabor, told the court that the suspects allegedly
petitioned the complainant on July 14, 2016 over human
trafficking, gunrunning and sponsoring the Niger Delta
Avengers.
Irabor told Chief Magistrate C. I. Moeteke that after
obtaining a search warrant, the police combed the
church and private residence of the bishop in Warri
alongside the suspects where no incriminating
substance was found against the bishop.
He noted that the complainant (Jero ) had to re-arrest
the suspects for false accusation against the clergyman.
Both suspects were however ordered to be remanded at
the Okere Prison, Warri pending a legal advice from the
Department of Public Prosecutions on the case.
Speaking on the allegation after the arraignment of the
suspects, the Bishop Jero told newsmen that he was
innocent of the accusation.
He commended The Punch for the report which he said
hastened the investigation into the matter, his freedom
and the subsequent arraignment of the suspects.

[By Punch NG]