The presiding pastor of Tree of Life Bible Church in Irete, Owerri West Local Government Area, Imo State, Ebere Emmanuel Amadi, has been remanded in prison after facing charges of assault, molestation, and threats against his mother, Mrs. Nelly Chidinma Amadi, over a family property dispute.
Pastor Amadi, who had been on the run for weeks, was arrested by the Ogbaku Police Station following allegations by his mother. Reports indicate that he had previously jumped administrative bail granted by the Scorpion Squad Office, prompting the police to launch a manhunt that led to his apprehension.
The Imo State Police Command subsequently arraigned Pastor Amadi in court. In the case filed as MID/31C/2024, the pastor faces multiple charges, including theft of property documents, malicious damage, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. Court records detail allegations that he stole property documents belonging to his mother, damaged her medicated glasses worth ₦60,000, and defaced her compound with inscriptions such as “This House is Not For Sale” and “Beware of 419.”
During the proceedings, defense counsel Barr. Osuocha pleaded for bail, arguing that the matter was a family dispute that could be resolved amicably. The prosecutor, Maria Goretti Nosiri, raised no objection to the bail request. Consequently, the Magistrate, His Worship Alamezie, granted bail to the defendant, setting the amount at ₦500,000 and requiring a Level 10 officer in the Imo State Civil Service as a surety with valid identification documents.
However, due to the defendant’s inability to meet the bail conditions, he was remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Owerri. Pastor Amadi pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court has scheduled the next hearing for January 24, 2025.
The case has drawn public attention, raising questions about the intersection of faith leadership, family disputes, and the rule of law. Many await the outcome of the trial as the community grapples with the controversy surrounding the embattled cleric.