INTERNATIONAL NEWS: 8 NIGERIANS ARRESTED IN CAMBODIA

ILLICIT ARMS TRADE: EIGHT (8)  NIGERIANS ARRESTED IN CAMBODIA.

International news monitored online has reported the arrest and subsequent trial of eight (8) Nigerians for allegedly trafficking in illicit hard drugs in Cambodia.

According to the reports, the eight Nigerians alongside a Cambodian, were arraigned early last week for allegedly using the Mountain of Fire Ministries Church as its base for dealing in illicit drugs.

The arraigned suspects are; Nnamezie Victor, 30; Francis Nnamdi, 30; Sunday Nwabuisi, 31; Tony Mmaduka Chukwuonye, 34; Okorom Kizito, 35; Favour Nnabuife Okorom, 36; Maduka Simon Ukandu, 37; and Izuchukwu Chukwuma, 40.

Charged along with the eight (8) Nigerians is a 25 years old Cambodian, Mon Vinyong.

If the suspects are found guilty by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, they will face a sentence of life imprisonment, in prison. , in a case that began in January last year.

A verdict is expected next month (September) following a final trial last week.

However, in its reaction to the claim that its Cambodian branch of MFM was used to trade in drugs, Chairman of MFM Media Committee Worldwide, Oladele Bank-Olemoh, told Punch that the accused were not members of the church.

“Linking the men to the church is an attempt to drag the name of the church through the mud”, he said.

“The MFM church is not shut down. Our Pastor is there and he is busy in the Ministry. Those arrested are not members of the church. They are neither our missionaries nor workers in the church. The MFM church is the only African church in Cambodia that many black people attend”.

“You know the country is a Muslim country. This could be a vendetta against the church. This case (of alleged drug trafficking) happened in 2014. The church was searched and nothing was found, though arrests were made outside the church. We employed a lawyer to prove the church’s innocence,” Bank-Olemoh said.

The Cambodia Daily in its report during the hearing stated that Vinyong had claimed that she received mobile phone boxes from Chukwuonye in 2014, but did not know the boxes were filled with drugs.

The media (Cambodian) publication noted that the eight Nigerians “operated out of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Church in Meanchey district in 2014 and early 2015.”

The evidence given at the court has it that the pair became friends after meeting at the church (MFM).

“At the end of October and early November, I delivered the goods 2 or 3 times, and in December I delivered one more time, adding that she was paid $100 per day for acting as a courier” Vinyong stated.