Pilgrimage: Varsity lecturer arrested for brother’s abscondment in Israel

Chidi Ogbuefi, a lecturer at the Anchor University, has been arrested for the abscondment of his brother during pilgrimage to Israel in July 2022.

The Head, Media and Public Relations, the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Celestine Toruka, in a statement made said the lecturer guaranteed Solomon Ogbuehi, an evangelist with the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, adding that the pilgrim instead, absconded in Israel.

Toruka, who warned that guarantors would pay for the sins of the people they guarantee during pilgrimage, added that the lecturer even aided the abscondment of his brother, who was part of Lagos continent.

It was learnt that a petition was written to the police, alleging that the lecturer had refused to produce his brother, having guaranteed him and promised to be held responsible for his action.

Toruka,who noted that the lecturer would face the wrath of the law as a deterrent to other would-be guarantors and potential absconders, said, “It is instructive to state that the commission in its pilgrim’s form which every intending pilgrim must fill before undergoing screening conducted by the commission, makes provision where a guarantor must attest to the character of the intending pilgrim.

“And specify in writing and duly sign that he or she would take full responsibility in the event that the pilgrim absconds in the Holy Land.

“Mr Chidi Ogbuehi claimed to be an official of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and a lecturer with Anchor University, Ipaja, Lagos. He was arrested by the law enforcement agents on August 1, 2022.

“He was arrested for allegedly aiding his brother, Solomon Ogbuehi, to abscond in Israel during the July 2022 pilgrimage exercise, having committed himself by attestation and by accepting full responsibility for the pilgrim’s conduct.

“The absconder, travelled to Israel as a self-sponsored pilgrim. He also claimed to be an evangelist with Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry.

“On the expiration of his pilgrimage exercise, Mr Solomon Ogbuehi did not return to the country. His guarantor, Mr Chidi Ogbuehi, also failed to produce him.”