Report Linking Dunamis Church To Jet That Landed In Asaba Road Fake — Group

By RhemDy News

Contrary to a media report (not RhemDy News) linking the Dunamis Church to a recent incident where a private aircraft landed on the road in Asaba, Delta State, the Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF) said the report was fake and troubling.

Reponding to an exclusive story by an online publication titled: "Exclusive: Aircraft In Asaba Incident Linked To Dunamis Church As FG Arrest Overaged Pilot", the CCYF described the publication as completely false, baseless, and malicious. 

The disclaimer, contained in a statement by the Convener of CCYF, James Paul Adama, in Abuja, stressed that after careful inquiry and review, the body affirmed that Dunamis International Gospel Centre (Dunamis Church) does not own any private jet. 

Adama maintained that any insinuation that the aircraft involved in the Asaba/Ogwashi-Uku incidence is owned by the church is false. 

"The church has consistently maintained that it does not own a private aircraft, despite having the capacity to acquire one for gospel outreach purposes if needed.

"We further state clearly and unequivocally that the assertion is a fabrication and underscores the reckless misinformation being deliberately spread to mislead the public," the Convener said.

He reminded that spreading false information that harms the reputation of individuals, organisations, or institutions can constitute offences under Nigerian law. 

Adama noted such key legal provisions to include Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 – Section 24 (Cyberstalking), which criminalises the peddling of false information for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, needless anxiety, among others.  

He further referenced Subsection (2) also addresses communications that bully, threaten, or harass another person, placing them in fear of death, violence, or bodily harm, with penalties including imprisonment of up to 10 years in aggravated cases and higher fines.

The CCYF leader also cited the Criminal Code Act – Section 59 bordering on publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public.

"Any person who publishes or reproduces any statement, rumour or report which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturb public peace, knowingly or having reason to believe that such statement, rumour or report is false, is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for three years.

"Defamation provisions under the Criminal Code (e.g., Sections 373–375) also apply, with penalties up to two years imprisonment for publishing defamatory matter known to be false."

CCYF maintained that the disclaimer serves as formal notice to the general public to discard as false, fallacious and malicious the said publication. 

"We, therefore, urge media outlets, bloggers, and individuals to verify information from official sources before publication to avoid legal consequences. 

"The church reserves the right to pursue all available legal remedies against those who knowingly disseminate false information intended to cause reputational harm", he said.

Adama urged interested persons and the media to contact the official channels of Dunamis Church for verification on matters concerning the church.