EKO HOT BLOG reports that Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili has queried the Department of State Service (DSS) following the alleged arrest of the founder of Restoring Isaachers Generation (RIG), Apostle Tomi Arayomi, his wife Tahmar and personal assistant Emmanuel.
Operatives of DSS arrested on Friday, UK, Apostle Tomi Arayomi, a development confirmed by the cleric’s twin brother, Tobi Arayomi, through his Instagram account @tobiarayomi, around 12 noon.
According to Tobi, the cleric was apprehended by operatives of the DSS for alleged political prophecies he made.
When the news of the arrest broke, former minister Oby Ezekwesili questioned the secret police on the offense of the pastor which led to his arrest.
She had tweeted, “@OfficialDSSNG can you please confirm news that Pastor @TomiArayomi Tomi Arayomi and his wife were arrested by your officials earlier today at the Abuja airport?
“If so, and for public accountability, what offense? Also, when will their lawyers be allowed access to them?”
The pastor’s brother Tobi Arayomi later disclosed that the secret police apprehended the cleric over a prophecy he gave about the 2023 polls.
One hour after, Arayomi was confirmed released, singer Benita Okojie and Big Brother Naija star BamBam among others reacted in the comment section of Tobi’s post.
Benita and BamBam wrote the same messages, “Thank you Jesus!”
Arayomi, who is based in the United Kingdom, had said before the polls that Nigerians should vote for an “outsider”, adding that Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would first emerge president-elect.
The clergyman and wife were scheduled to attend a programme in Abuja on Friday tagged ‘The Cross’ in commemoration of Good Friday.
The Cleric, taking to Twitter, posted an official statement by the DSS on Sunday, it stated:
“Prophetess Tahmar and I would like to express our gratitude for all your prayers and international support during Fridays ordeal with The DSS. We can confirm that on Good Friday 7th April we arrived at Abuja to visit one of our branches when we were picked up by about 6 armed agents who did not identify themselves as DSS or any law enforcement agency. My wife, myself and my aide Emmanuel Ezerika were forced to surrender our mobile phones and enter the vehicles where we were taken at considerable speed to what we later learned were DSS HQ. The officers, some of who wore balaclavas were not immediately recognisable as DSS.
“Our pictures were taken, finger prints and data collected and we were locked inside a room with no real knowledge as to the grounds for our arrest. After a lengthy interrogation, it appears media and social media pressure forced DSS to release my wife and I. My aide still remains under DSS custody and thus far, DSS have been elusive as to his exact whereabouts. We will not divulge the particulars of the investigation at this point as we are still awaiting the safe release of my aide.
“Out of concern for my young children and my wife’s well being, we made the unfortunate decision to leave Nigeria abruptly. This decision did not come lightly but with considerable prayer and counsel from our board, trustees, colleagues in the ministry and respective families. I can confirm that we are safe and will continue to work and pray for a new Nigeria. We remain resolute that we will return to the Nation that we have grown to call our home but for now we will continue to press, pray and give God no rest until Nigeria becomes a praise in the earth. We did not come to Nigeria under any illusion of comfort. We came to serve the Lord, fully aware of the danger. We want you to know that Tahmar and I remain strong and unwavering in our commitment to Nigeria and the many great leaders we have encountered during our time there. We want to thank every leader and friend who reached out, called, texted, posted. We are so grateful. This is not goodbye. This is see you soon! In a new and hotter Nigeria”.
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