Pastor Johnson Dominic of the Celestial Church of Christ, CCC, New Jerusalem Parish, Onosa Avenue, in Lagos State has accused an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, Dr. Emmanuel Eze of allegedly torturing him.

Dominic, who has since been hospitalized, has alleged he was brutalized around 5pm on Tuesday by the ACP and his aides, who came to Onosa community in the Ibeju Lekki area of the state in a jeep.

According to the victim, who is the head of the CCC, he was assaulted on the premises of his church because he refused to pay up some money which he owed the ACP who had some plots of land in the area.

The Punch reports that Dominic, a father of three, was said to have bought one of the plots of land for N1.2m, but Eze, the ACP, Medicals, in Bayelsa State Police Command, allegedly demanded more payment.

Dominic said, “It was around 5pm that the ACP and his men came to my church. I was attending to some people, who came for prayers. He came to inspect his land.

“We had known each other for some years. The ACP bought 16 plots of land beside my church and he had always asked me to monitor them for him.

“I asked him to remove his shoes because he was on the church premises. He got angry and slapped me. His aides dragged me on the floor. They beat me until I became unconscious. That was how I found myself in this hospital,” Dominic, who sustained injuries in the chest and head, added.

The 44-year-old pastor was then rushed to a private hospital in the Jakande, Lekki Phase 1 area, where he has been admitted. But the ACP, Eze, when contacted, said he did not beat Dominic.

According to him, the pastor slumped because he had been fasting for two days and eating only fruits.

The ACP said, “I am a medical doctor. I do not carry arms and I do not violate people’s rights.

“Honestly speaking, Johnson (Dominic) is my good friend. He has been helping me to look after some plots of land I have in the area.

“My problem with him started when he supplied me some concrete blocks and someone later told me that he had been shortchanging me.

“Instead of 1,500 concrete blocks that I ordered for, he brought 1,200 blocks. When I came in yesterday (Tuesday), I told him that my wife was coming to farm on the plots of land.

“He did not like that idea. I also asked for 100 rods I kept with him. He said they remained 91 rods. So, an argument started.

“While we were arguing about the rods, nobody pushed anybody. We were just arguing. He just slumped and became unconscious. It was a fierce argument.

“I was told he had been fasting for two days. He had earlier threatened that he was going to kill me. I was the one who rushed him to a hospital and paid for his bills. It is not true that I beat him up. I am a responsible police officer.

“I did not come with any aide. I had three pastors and my driver in the jeep.

“I do not like civilians to be molested. When I came in with the pastors, he asked us to remove our shoes. So I stood outside,” he added.