The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Offiong, has once again stopped worshippers from entering the University of Calabar Chapel of Redemption, even though a Federal High Court order told him not to interfere with the church’s activities.
This happened on Sunday when university security stopped chapel members from entering the building for their weekly service.
On August 4, the court issued an order stopping the vice-chancellor from interfering with the chapel’s activities or locking its doors. The order was kept in place on August 20, and the main case was postponed until September 2.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that security staff told worshippers they were following the vice-chancellor’s instructions, after instructing the worshippers to leave the university and hold their Sunday service on a nearby street in Calabar.
This was the second time in August that church members were not allowed into the chapel.
On August 16, worshippers were again stopped from entering the building and instead held their service outside near the fire service park on campus.
The dispute began after Offiong took several administrative actions against the chapel’s leaders.
The vice-chancellor removed Rev. Joseph Ushie as chaplain, evicted him from his university housing, and named Rev. Israel Eyo as interim chaplain.
He also suspended Prof. Essien Oku, who was chairman of the church council, dissolved the council, and set up a caretaker committee to manage the chapel’s affairs.
Afterward, Ushie went to the Federal High Court to challenge the university management’s actions.
The court then issued an injunction to stop the vice-chancellor from interfering with the chapel’s activities until the case is decided.
But on Sunday, the university’s Deputy Chief Security Officer, Monday Johnson, told the worshippers he was following orders and could lose his job if he let them stay on the premises.
The worshippers eventually followed the directive and moved to a nearby street to hold their service.
Commenting on the situation, the church council’s secretary, Imo Nse, said members thought the court order would protect their right to worship while the case was still in court
“We remain committed to obeying the law; our only demand is freedom to worship while this matter remains before the court,” Nse said.
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