The Police Command in Cross River has intervened in a leadership dispute at the Chapel of Redemption, University of Calabar (UNICAL), halting a Sunday service to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.
The conflict began when the university’s caretaker committee and an interim chaplain appointed by the Vice-Chancellor attempted to take control of a service being conducted by the chapel’s Chaplain, Rev. Joseph Ushie.
The development caused confusion among worshippers and heightened tension, prompting the police to suspend the service.
DCP Godwin Etim of the state command said he ordered the termination of the service after observing the tension, which he feared could lead to violence.
“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,” he said.
Etim said he held discussions with Ushie, 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 had been invited to the command on Monday for a meeting and urged them to remain calm.
The dispute is also before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, which had issued an order restraining the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Offiong Offiong, and persons acting through him from interfering with the chapel’s premises and activities.
Ushie had instituted a suit against Offiong, the university’s Registrar, Dr Chukwuka Icha, and three others through his counsel, Chief Mba Ukweni, SAN.
Following the application, Justice Phoebe Ayuba granted an injunction restraining the respondents and anyone acting through them from interfering with the chapel’s premises and activities.
The court also directed the parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application fixed for Aug. 20.
