The Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide has disassociated itself from Pastor Afolabi Hodonu following his arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ikorodu, Lagos. The church confirmed in a statement that Hodonu was not in active service and had been suspended since 2020 over allegations of misconduct. NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Boroffice, disclosed that the arrest occurred during a raid on a residential property where about 15 kilograms of cannabis and 2 litres of cannabis oil were recovered. Hodonu is currently in custody and being questioned.
The church's general secretary, Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Fabiyi, emphasized that the clergyman's actions were personal and in no way represented the values or teachings of the Celestial Church. Fabiyi reiterated the church's commitment to upholding moral standards among its members. The NDLEA has not linked the seized drugs to any broader trafficking network at this time.
A pastor suspended four years ago is still being called "Pastor" while in police custody over drug possession—this reflects how loosely titles are held in some religious circles. The Celestial Church acted swiftly to cut ties, but the public damage was already done the moment a man in clerical garb appeared in an NDLEA briefing. For Nigerians, it reinforces growing scepticism around religious figures operating without oversight. This case won't change drug enforcement patterns, but it may dent trust in spiritual leadership.
