The altar, traditionally a sacred space where priests offer prayers, transformed into a scene of sacrifice at Grace of Comfort Parish of the Celestial Church of Christ in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

It was not just an ordinary person that was allegedly killed on the sacred platform, but the shepherd of the church, Most Senior Evangelist Morris Fadehan by his assistant, Lekan Ogundipe, following several disagreements between them.

Ogundipe was said to have laid ambush within the church premises and unleashed terror on his victim while the deceased bowed and prayed on the altar.

He allegedly stabbed him in the head several times, hit a nail through his ear and nose before dragging the lifeless body out of the altar, wrapped it with clothes and set it on fire.

Ogundipe while allegedly perpetrating his crime also sustained injuries on his hand while the deceased, during the struggle, scratched him severely on the face.

Woman, money palava

It was gathered that the church’s shepherd had on many occasions complained about Ogundipe’s attitude, especially money and immorality, and had vowed to stop him from assisting him but not without getting the approval of the church’s elders.

Speaking while receiving a delegation from the national headquarters, Pa Olafare, said to own the church, explained how the incident happened.

Olafare said: “The deceased had reported to me that he was to disengage Lekan (the suspect) as his assistant over many unlawful acts. Most recent of them includes an assault on a prophetess in the church last Wednesday, and I agreed with him, but he added that he will take the decision after consulting with the elders.”

Many unlawful acts

Ogundipe was also said to have assaulted Ewan, a prophetess in the church.

The mother of two was reportedly angry with Ogundipe for claiming to be in a false relationship with the lady.

Ewa said: “Last Wednesday morning after Ogundipe had opened the church, I decided to sweep the floor when he started talking to me but I refused to respond.

“Afterwards, the shepherd came around, heard the incident and scolded him for involving himself in such a mess. He even threatened to kill me before he was asked to leave the church area.”

Following the incident, it was gathered that the shepherd collected the church’s key from him, an incident that did not go well with Ogundipe.

Reporting the ugly incident

However, penultimate Monday, after Ogundipe had allegedly perpetrated the crime inside the church without being detected, he quickly went to Pa Olafare’s house to report that he met the shepherd’s body on the floor burning.

His words: “While I was about eating on Monday evening, one Lekan came to the house and told me the deceased body was on fire and that he was lifeless on the floor. My wife and I drove to the church with him where we found the deceased partly burnt inside the church.

“Meanwhile, Lekan later confessed to the police that he perpetrated the crime because of a dispute with the deceased.”

Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command Spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said the suspect is in police custody for further investigation.

She said police upon getting to the scene found the deceased’s body in its pool of blood, saying: “Marks of violence were discovered on the corpse, we took photographs and the body was taken to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, OAUTH, for autopsy.”