Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Police Command, has confirmed that one General Overseer of Agape Evangelical Ministry located at Obikabia Junction in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Bishop Timothy Otu, is now in its custody.
The amorous Bishop was arrested following the death of a female member of his church during an alleged love affair in a hotel in Aba.
According to reports, the deceased simply identified as Evangelist Happiness Echieze, 43, was one of the pillars of the Bishop’s church.
The Bishop was said to have been in a love affair with the mother of five for a long time.
Police in a statement issued Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Maureen Chinaka, said the suspect was helping the police in the investigation to unravel the cause of the lady’s death in his hotel room.
According to the statement the Bishop and the lady checked into the hotel in Ovom village on August 12, 2023, around 9.23pm.
The statement said that the lady’s naked lifeless body was later discovered in the hotel room around midnight while the said Bishop was no where to be found.
Police said the amorous Bishop was later arrested on Sunday while preaching in his church.
According to the statement, the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough investigation.
Below is a full text of the statement made available to Ikengaonline: “On August 13, 2023, around 9.30am, Mr Godwin Akpan residing at Jubilee Guest House in Ovom Village, Obingwa Local Government Area reported to the Isiala Ngwa Police Division that on the evening of August 12, 2023, around 9.25pm, a clergyman named Timothy Otu associated with Agape Evangelical Ministry at Obikabia Junction in Obingwa LGA, checked into the guest house along with a woman named Happiness Echieze from Isiala Ngwa LGA, Abia State. Happiness Echieze was 43 years of age.
“Further details provided by Mr Akpan indicated that on the same date, around midnight, he entered the hotel room of the aforementioned clergyman and discovered the lifeless body of Happiness Echieze. She was found unclothed, and a white substance was emanating from her mouth and nose. Regrettably, the clergyman was absent from the scene.
“Preliminary investigations have been launched into this matter. The deceased’s body has been transported from the location and is currently at the SDA Mortuary in Aba, awaiting an autopsy.
“Additionally, the suspect in this case has been apprehended and the case has been transferred to the State CID for discreet investigations.”
