Court Denies Bail To Anambra Pastor Accused Of Marrying Mother, Daughter

The Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka has denied bail to an Onitsha-based spiritualist, Harrison Anazodo, over allegations bordering on human trafficking, abduction and forced marriage involving women.

Anazodo, who is also alleged to have abducted a mother and her daughter, forcing them into marriage with him appeared before Justice Jude Obiora on Tuesday in a wheelchair as proceedings continued in the case.

Facing a seven-count charge under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025, his counsel, W. Abonye, had asked the court to grant him bail on health grounds.

However, the court rejected the application after considering the medical circumstances presented before it, with the judge holding that the defendant did not have a life-threatening medical condition warranting bail.

The prosecution, led by the Chief State Counsel, Chineze Ekwerekwu, opposed the application and presented a 20-paragraph counter-affidavit alongside two exhibits.

The prosecution also told the court that the State was ready to proceed with the trial and had witnesses lined up to testify.

Following the arguments from both sides, Justice Obiora adjourned the case until October 16, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

The pastor’s reported marriage to about 50 women among other allegations had earlier attracted public attention which led to his arrest by the state government.

He reportedly told investigators that he could not determine the number of women he was married to, even as 11 babies were found at his residence upon his arrest.

The allegations have not been established by the court, and the defendant remains on trial.

Meanwhile, proceedings were briefly overshadowed by a confrontation involving some of the defendant’s supporters and journalists at the court premises.

The supporters reportedly attempted to prevent journalists from recording Anazodo’s arrival at the court, resulting in a disturbance during which at least two smartphones and cameras were allegedly damaged.

Some journalists were also manhandled. The incident was brought to the attention of the court by the Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke.

Nweke addressed the court over the development, while counsel to Anazodo apologised to the court and the affected journalists and assured the court that such an incident would not happen again.

Justice Obiora accepted the apology and directed that the damaged gadgets be replaced.

The judge also reiterated that the proceedings were open to journalists and members of the public, provided that proper decorum was maintained within the court premises.