Daughter of Pastor Raymond
Uzoechina of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, RCCG,
Charity Uzoechina, whose father
alleged was hypnotised and
forced into converting to Islam
has finally spoken on her
conversion.
Charity, who has been living at
the palace of Etsu Nupe, Alhaji
Yahaya Abubakar, since
converting to Islam has called on
Nigerians to leave her alone to
practice the religion of her choice.
Speaking on telephone to
Vanguard yesterday, Charity
insisted that nobody forced her
into Islam, and therefore urged
everyone concerned to hold their
peace and let her practice her new
found faith.'
“I did it on my own. Nobody
forced or enticed me to become a
Muslim. I converted to Islam on
my own. Am I the first to convert
to Islam in Nigeria? So what is it?”
Pastor Raymond Uzoechina, had
earlier claimed that Charity was
abducted and hypnotised to say
and do what she was doing. He
went on to challenge the Etsu
Nupe to produce Charity in court
for cross-examination by his
lawyer.
Charity however said; “I know
people are influencing my father
and I am praying for him and
other members of my family to
know that this is the right
religion.”
Charity whose father has been
fuming about her continued stay
at the Etsu Nupe’s palace also
said she was not interested in
going back to her father’s house.
“I am not going back to my father
because of his actions in recent
times. He has been threatening
me and at my age (25), I am free
to practice any religion of my
choice and so, I should be left to
decide.
“If I want to sue him to court, I
can at this my age because it is
my right to practice any religion I
want.”
A Sharia court had earlier granted
Etsu Nupe custody of Charity who
now wants to be called Aisha, a
ruling her father appealed on
grounds that a Sharia court has
no jurisdiction of a matter
concerning a Christian in a free
state like Nigeria. The appeal
ruling is slated for August, but the
Christian Association of Nigeria,
CAN, Niger State Chapter would
love the issue settled out of court.
Speaking to newsmen, Niger State
CAN Chairman, Rev. Musa Dada,
said CAN had visited the Etsu
Nupe’s palace along with other
CAN officials from Abuja officially
on the matter and that plans were
on to settle the case out of court.
“We have met with the Etsu Nupe
and other stake holders involved
at the Etsu’s palace and we have
made progress.
“I can assure you that probably
before the August 1 (Thursday)
date, when the case is expected
to come up at the Sharia Court,
Bida, something positive is likely
to come out which will put an end
to the rift,” Dada said