A Chief Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory has ruled that the presiding pastor of the Abuja parish of the House on the Rock, Uche Aigbe has a criminal case to answer over the prohibited firearm, AK-47, found in his possession.

The pastor had made a no-case submission but this was dismissed by Chief Magistrate Abubakar Ismail on the ground that the objection to trial lacked merit and substance.

In the ruling on Thursday at Zuba, Magistrate Ismail held that from the totality of the evidence so far adduced, the defendant has been effectively linked with the charges preferred against him by the Police.

The police had charged Uche Aigbe, Promise Ukachukwu, and Olakunle Ogunleye with criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of prohibited firearms, inciting disturbance, and criminal intimidation, which they pleaded not guilty to.

The prosecution counsel, Assistant Police Commissioner, James Idachaba, had informed the court that the defendants got the firearm from Inspector Musa Audu, attached to Wuye Division, posted on guard duty at the said Church.

The offence, he said, is punishable under Section III of the Firearms Act CAP F28, LFN 2004, and contravened Sections 97, 114, and 397 of the Penal Code.