Testimony Saga: Pastor Paul Enenche Somersault In Law -By Joseph Aliu

It would be recalled that the obrigado-dancing pastor, Pastor Paul Eneche had openly, during church service rebuked one of his members who was giving testimony wherein she had expressed that against all odds she was able to bag a law degree.

Enenche had called the woman a liar for failing to speak sound and correct English as would be required of lawyers and also failing to distinguish between a Bsc and LLB degree, thereby asking the woman to walk out of the church’s alter. The whole imbroglio has since yesterday, stirred mixed reaction from the general public who took to the media to register their viewpoint.

Let me quickly at this point state it categorically and emphatically that the obrigado-dancing pastor has somersaulted in law. Hard and critical as it may be thought, the actions of Enenche have serious legal implications.

In the first instance, Enenche has no legal right to expressly, publicly and conclusively call and tag a card carrying member of his church a liar who has not obtained a law degree. Enenche cannot be the one complaining of lies and deceit from his church member and also be the same person to judge and castigate the member in public. The principle of not being a judge in a matter that you have an interest stands tall in law. Aggrieved Enenche can at best, walk through the doors of a law court to bring an action of deceit against the member.

Enenche cannot rely solely on his instincts to tell the general public of his denomination that the testifier had told a liar. As a growing society, we have passed the era of judging people with emotions and sentiments. Emotions and sentiments becloud our sense of reasoning. If Enenche is cocksure that the testifier has told a lie, he should table facts and evidences that the testifier never attended a university to obtain a law degree. The onus is on him to go a voyage of fact finding and not rely on his petty instincts. If he cannot table facts before the public then he should forever hold his peace. As Eneche has instincts, so do other persons have instincts which obviously varies. We must call a spade by its real name and nothing else.

The broad day light intimidation of the testifier by Enenche is another way of impairing and clamping down the constitutionally guaranteed right of the testifier to freely express herself in any gathering and association. To think that the testifier is an offering and tithe-paying member makes the actions of Enenche more amoral.

Again, the obrigado-dancing pastor and the public must understand that under our laws, there is what is called respect and regard of dignity of a person. At this point, i must ask this rather rhetorical question, how would Enenche feel if he was addressed and spoken to in such belittling condescending, degrading and scornful manner as he has done to the testifier? If we must address a matter then we must do it with utmost regard and civility.

The trend of pastors’ gas-lighting, hoodwinking and indirectly taking advantage of the innocence of persons and deriding their constitutional and moral rights must stop. We must borrow a leaf from those who have trekked the rugged path of religious renaissance and rejuvenation and are now reaping their dividends.

JOSEPH ALIU is a Human Rights Activist, Constitutional Law Analyst, Social crusader and a Legal Series Analyst @ogunwatchng. He can be reached via aliujoseph085@gmail.com, 09085773212, 09131704196