Police Halt UNICAL Chapel Service Over Leadership Dispute

Operatives of the Cross River State Police Command have intervened in a conflict at the Chapel of Redemption, University of Calabar, halting a Sunday service to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.

The conflict began when the university caretaker committee and an interim chaplain appointed by the vice-chancellor attempted to take control of the service being officiated by the chapel’s Chaplain, Rev. Joseph Ushie.

The development, which occurred on Sunday, caused confusion among worshippers and heightened tension at the chapel, prompting the police to intervene and stop the service.

DCP Godwin Etim of the state command told newsmen that he ordered the termination of the service after assessing the situation and fearing that allowing it to continue could result in violence.

He said, “There is palpable tension, and with what I see here, if I allow the service to continue, it will lead to bloodshed in this church.”

Etim explained that he held discussions with the chaplain, the interim chaplain and a member of the church’s Board of Trustees, after which they agreed to suspend the service to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

He added that the parties involved had been invited to the police command on Monday for a meeting, while urging them to remain calm and resolve the dispute peacefully.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, a subsisting order of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had restrained the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Offiong Offiong, and persons acting through him from interfering with the chapel’s premises and activities.

The Chaplain, Rev. Joseph Ushie, had instituted the suit against the Vice-Chancellor, the university Registrar, Dr Chukwuka Icha, and three others through his counsel, Chief Mba Ukweni, SAN.

Ushie had sought a Motion Ex Parte asking the court to restrain the defendants from intimidating, threatening or assaulting him while exercising his rights to worship at the chapel.

Following submissions by his counsel, Justice Phoebe Ayuba granted an injunction restraining the respondents, or anyone acting through them, from interfering with the chapel’s premises and activities.

The court also directed the parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application, which has been fixed for August 20.