The Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide has dissociated itself from a cleric, Afolabi Hodonu, who was recently arrested in Lagos alongside his wife by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency over alleged possession of illicit substances.

Hodonu and his wife were apprehended at the Gbaji checkpoint with about 11 kilograms of skunk reportedly concealed in hidden compartments within their vehicle. Following the arrest, the cleric claimed to be the Shepherd in charge of a parish located at Agonvi Sea Beach in the Sakpo area of the Seme border, Badagry.

According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the arrest formed part of a broader crackdown on drug trafficking along the Seme corridor. He disclosed that the operation came shortly after the interception of a suspected fake security operative, identified as Sunday Samuel, who was allegedly transporting 24.5 kilograms of skunk from the Seme border into Lagos.

The agency noted that both arrests were among several coordinated anti-narcotics operations carried out nationwide within the past week.
Reacting to the development, the church, through its Head of Media and Publicity, Kayode Ajala, clarified that neither Hodonu nor his wife are recognized members of the church’s Ketu mainstream. He emphasized that official records do not list them under the leadership of Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa.

Ajala expressed concern over the reputational impact of the incident, describing the allegations as disturbing and regrettable. He further disclosed that the church would deploy a task force to the Seme area of Badagry to investigate the situation and establish the full facts surrounding the case.

The church reiterated its commitment to upholding its values while distancing itself from any individual or activity capable of bringing its name into disrepute.