- Ezekiel has accused the state of conniving an evil scheme against him aimed at frustrating him and his ministry.
- He also wants the court to stop the state from freezing any of his 15 church bank accounts which he fears they might do claiming they have already threatened to do so.
Image: FILE
Televangelist Ezekiel Odero has filed a new application seeking for the court to order the reopening of his church.
In an application filed in Mombasa, Odero through lawyer Danstan Omari, asked the court to direct the state not to interfere with the religious activities conducted at the Newlife Prayer Centre in Mavueni.
He has accused the state of conniving an evil scheme against him aimed at frustrating him and his ministry.
“Unless this court intervenes, the respondents will continue issuing illegal directives to not only frustrate the applicant herein but also threaten the very existence of New Life Prayer Center and Church and the projects currently underway,” Ezekiel said.
He also wants the court to stop the state from freezing any of his 15 church bank accounts which he fears they might do claiming they have already threatened to do so.
He also claims that his TV station World Evangelism TV was suspended.
“Though the allegations against the applicant are unsubstantiated, scandalous and untrue, there has been an increasing extra-judicial interference by the respondents who currently threaten to freeze the church bank accounts, and to unreasonably deny the applicant and his congregation his freedom to religion as decreed under the Constitution,” reads court documents.
He claims that the state has threatened to freeze the church bank accounts in Cooperative Bank and NCBA Bank to paralyse and incapacitate his ministry on baseless accusations that he is involved in fraud and money laundering, which he denies.
“Other than the spread of ministry, I am involved in the fight against illiteracy and poverty which is evident from the projects I am currently involved in, the establishment of an International School- Kilifi International School, a university and the provision of job opportunities for the people living in Mavueni and its environs,” he says
The pastor further says that his ministry is well organized and coordinated with an administrator championing good order and the welfare of staff who are accommodated within the church compound.
“Be that as it may, we have restaurants for all cadre of individuals, banking facilities and there is ongoing construction of modern accommodation facilities that will be payable by our visitors who come seeking spiritual healing and salvation,” the affidavit reads.