Assistant kills priest, burns corpse inside church over dispute
In a tragic incident at the Celestial Church of Christ in Ile-Ife, Osun State, an Assistant Priest named Lekan Ogundipe was involved in the death of the Presiding Priest, Evangelist Moris Fadehan.
Reports indicate that the incident took place in the Omitoto area of the church, where the presiding priest was attending evening prayers.
According to sources, Ogundipe allegedly attacked Fadehan with a bell, knives, and nails, resulting in fatal injuries.
It is believed that a prior case of physical assault by Ogundipe on a prophetess named Mummy Ewa had strained his relationship with the presiding priest, leading to this tragic turn of events.
The owner of the church, Pa Olafare in a video obtained on Tuesday explained, “The deceased had reported to me that he was to disengage Lekan (suspect) as his assistant over many unlawful acts.
“Most recent of it include the assault on a prophetess in the church last week Wednesday and I agreed with him, but he added that he will take the decision after consulting with the elders.
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“But while I was about to eat on Monday evening, the said Lekan came to the house and told me fire was burning on the deceased body and that he was lifeless on the floor.
”I drove back with him and my wife to the church where we found the deceased body burnt inside the church.
“We discovered blood stained on different parts of his body and cuts. While asking him how he got the stains, he attempted to run. We grabbed him and lock him in my car before calling the police.
“We unwrapped the deceased body and discovered that there was nail in his ear and several cut on the head and neck before we took the body to the morgue of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife.
“Meanwhile Lekan later confessed to the police that he perpetrated the crime because of dispute with the deceased,” he said.
The Prophetess explained, “the suspect attacked me last week Wednesday when I told him to stop telling members that we were in a relationship, Pastor Fadehan met the unfortunate incident after he warned Lekan against assault on the Church.”
Osun Police spokesman Yemisi Opalola confirmed Ogundipe, who is the suspect, had been arrested and the corpse of Pastor Fadehan deposited in the morgue for autopsy.
