By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC has threatened to hold guarantors liable over any pilgrim who absconds in the Holy Land.
The Commission revealed that it marched action with words as it arrests a guarantor , Chidi Ogbuehi by law enforcement agents when his brother Solomon Ogbehi absconded during the July 2022 Pilgrimage through the Lagos contingent to Israel.
Furthermore the Commission has reiterated it’s commitment to achieving zero pilgrims abscondmt , a feat which was achieved last year during its maiden pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan.
Accordingly Commission intending Pilgrims must compulsorily fill forms with a guarantor’s attestation on the intending Pilgrim to take full responsibility in event that the Pilgrim absconds in the Holy Land.
According to a statement signed the by Head of Media and Public Relations, Celestine Toruka, Mr Chidi Ogbuehi, who claimed to be an official of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN and a Lecturer with Anchor University, Ipaja, Lagos was arrested by the law enforcement agents on 1st August, 2022,for aiding his brother, Solomon Ogbuehi to abscond in Israel during Pilgrimage exercise, having committed himself by attestation and by accepting full responsibility.
Mr Solomon Ogbuehi, the abscondee, traveled to Israel as a self – sponsored Pilgrim with the Lagos State contingent and claimed to be an Evangelist with Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry, MFM.
On the expiration of his Pilgrimage exercise, Mr Solomon Ogbuehi could not return to the country having absconded in Israel. His guarantor, Mr Chidi Ogbuehi failed to produce him based on the fact that he was the one who guaranteed him and promised to be held responsible for the pilgrim,s action.
NCPC will leave no stone unturned to make sure that Mr Chidi Ogbuehi pays for aiding his brother to abscond during Pilgrimage, except he produces him as this would serve as a deterrent to other would-be guarantors and potential absconders.
