The General Overseer of Dayspring Assembly, Awada, Obosi, Harrison Anazodo, has pleaded not guilty to an amended eight-count charge bordering on alleged murder, child trafficking, unlawful isolation and separation of individuals from their families, and other offences brought against him by the Anambra State Government.
Following his plea, the court, presided over by Justice Jude Obiorah, adjourned the case to October 30, November 2 and November 16, 2026, for definite hearing.
Chineze Ononye-Ekwerekwu, Chief State Counsel at the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, is prosecuting the case on behalf of the state, while Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Emeka Anaenugwu, is now the lead counsel for the defendant.
According to the amended charge, the first count alleges that Anazodo, on or before February 2025 at Awada-Obosi, under the guise of being a pastor, encouraged one of his members, Ebuka Okanu, to accumulate wealth through supernatural means, described in the charge as an unlawful means of livelihood.
In the second count, the defendant is accused of unlawfully killing one Victoria Aneke in Awada in or around 2024. The charge further alleges that her corpse remains in his possession.
The third count accuses Anazodo of allegedly taking a five-year-old boy, Wisdom Chukwuma, from his parents in Awada on or before 2004 and handing him over as a slave to one Simon Ugwuoke, who is currently at large.
The remaining five counts concern allegations that the defendant unlawfully isolated and separated five women from their families and kept them in his residence.
The women identified in the charges are Mrs Rachael Nlebedum, allegedly held at Awada in 2017; Mrs Comfort Ekwunife, allegedly held at Mbaukwu in Awka South Local Government Area in 2017; and Mrs Comfort Obetta, Mrs Faith Chukwuma and Mrs Chukwuka Ezeaonochie Igwe, who were allegedly isolated from their families and kept at his Awada residence on or before 2017.
The allegations are contained in the amended eight-count charge before the court. Anazodo has pleaded not guilty, and the case is scheduled to proceed to hearing on the adjourned dates.
