October 5, 2017 By Patrick Jaiah Kamara & Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
Pst. Ajisafe has been released but movement restricted
After spending ten days in protective custody at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Freetown, Evangelist Victor Ajisafe was yesterday released on stiff bail conditions by the Sierra Leone Police, while his churches across the country remain closed.
As part of the bail condition, the popular Christian preacher has been ordered by the police to report to the head of CID on a daily basis and surrender all his travelling documents to the police as he is barred from traveling outside the country or to the provinces without police approval.
Addressing newsmen yesterday at the police headquarters on George Street, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dr. Richard Moigbe, said his men would continue to monitor the security situation as preliminary investigations into the matter has been completed and file forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for legal advice.
“His churches will remain close and his license to preach suspended until the police is satisfied with the security threat analysis that would inform future decision. Pastor Ajisafe is not allowed to travel to the provinces or out of Sierra Leone without police approval,” he said
The police have also appealed to the Muslim community and general public to remain calm and go about their normal businesses.
The deputy IG applauded efforts by religious leaders and the government to diffuse tension in a bid to maintain the peace in the country. “The Sierra Leone police would like to commend the various parties involved such as the Muslim Community, Inter-religious Council, Body of Christ, Ministry of Social Welfare and other relevant stakeholders for supporting police investigation and keeping the peace,” Moigbe said.
When asked whether closing the churches would not debar members from worshipping God, thus a violation of the right to religion, Dr. Moigbe said “God is everywhere and people should worship Him anywhere.”
Asked as to what specific charges would be proffered against the preacher, he responded that, “We have not charged him formally to court. We have completed investigations and because of the complexity and sensitivity of the matter, we have forwarded the case to office of the AG for legal advise and it is based on the advise that we would proffer formal charges against him.”
The popular evangelist was arrested after an audio and video sermon attributed to him went viral on social media platforms, which police say contained hate speech and has the propensity to derail longstanding religious tolerance among the citizenry.
Church leaders representing all the denominations had appealed for the main Sanctuary in Freetown and branches to resume operations in the absence of the Founder and General Overseer, Evangelist Victor Ajisafe.
Rev. Dr. Osman Jesse Fornah, speaking on behalf of the ‘Body of Christ’, noted that as chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, the fundamental right of worshippers at Sanctuary Praise Church had been violated, and that government should allow them to go ahead with their church services with the current pastor-in-charge.
“Evangelist Ajisafe has thousands of followers and worshippers that have been deprived of their right to worship. We are calling on government to lift the suspension on the churches and allow them go to church without Evangelist Ajisafe,” he urged.
Some worshippers turned-up in church last Sunday but were turned-away by the police as the gates remained closed.
Thus, the call by the religious leader and human rights commissioner has so far gone unheeded by both the government and police, with both citing security concerns.
Meanwhile, the Independent Media Commission in collaboration with the police has banned all public discussions, including on social media, on the subject matter.