Shanzu Court Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido has directed the National Police Service (NPS) to reopen televangelist Ezekiel Odero’s New Life International Church in Mavueni, Kilifi County.
The controversial pastor through his lawyer Danstan Omari had asked the court to issue an order barring the government from interfering with religious activities at his church.
He accused the government of frustrating the embattled pastor and his ministry.
“Unless this court intervenes, the respondents will continue issuing illegal directives to not only frustrate the applicant herein but also threaten the very existence of New Life Prayer Center and Church and the projects currently underway,” Omari said.
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He also asked the court to bar the state from accessing Pastor Ezekiel’s church bank accounts.
“Though the allegations against the applicant are unsubstantiated, scandalous, and untrue, there has been an increasing extra-judicial interference by the respondents who currently threaten to freeze the church bank accounts, and to unreasonably deny the applicant and his congregation his freedom to religion as decreed under the Constitution,” Omari added.
This comes a day after the court declined a request by the police to detain the televangelist for thirty more days.
Shanzu Senior Principle Magistrate Joe Omindo in his ruling on Tuesday, May 2 stated that police officers would detail Pastor Ezekiel until Thursday, May 4, 2023.
