Tragedy struck in Ile-Ife, Osun State when an Assistant Priest Lekan Ogundipe killed the Presiding Priest of Celestial Church of Christ at Omitoto area, Evangelist Moris Fadehan inside church and burnt his corpse on the altar.
It was gathered that the incident occurred on Monday evening after the presiding priest resumed for prayer.
Ogundipe was said to have ambushed him with bell, knives and nails, stabbing him repeatedly.
It was learnt that unresolved case of physical assault by the Assistant Priest on a prophetess simply identified as Mummy Ewa last Wednesday caused a rift between the duo.
The owner of the church, Pa Olafare in a video obtained on Tuesday explained: โThe deceased had reported to me that he was to disengage Lekan (suspect) as his assistant over many unlawful acts.
โMost 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.
โBut 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.
โI drove back with him and my wife to the church where we found the deceased body burnt inside the church.
โWe 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 in the police.
โWe 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.
โMeanwhile Lekan later confessed to the police that he perpetrated the crime because of dispute with the deceased,โ he said.
The Prophetess explained: โthe 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 inident and warned Lekan against assault on the Church.โ
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.
(The Nation)
