Anambra Pastor Accused of Taking 75 Married Women Appears in Court in Wheelchair

Anambra Pastor Accused of Taking 75 Married Women Appears in Court in Wheelchair

Pastor Harrison Anazodo, the General Overseer of Dayspring Assembly, Awada, Obosi, Anambra State, has appeared before the Anambra State High Court in Awka in a wheelchair, months after his arrest over allegations including abduction, unlawful confinement, murder and family separation.

Anazodo was arraigned on Monday, September 28, 2026, before Justice Jude Obiora on a seven-count charge relating to alleged offences said to have occurred between 2000 and 2025.

The pastor was brought to court from the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, where he had reportedly spent about three weeks receiving medical treatment, including time in the Intensive Care Unit.

He pleaded not guilty to all seven counts.

Following the proceedings, Justice Obiora ordered that Anazodo be returned to the teaching hospital, taking his reported medical condition into consideration. The court adjourned the case until October 12, 2026, when the defendant’s bail application is expected to be heard.

The case stems from Anazodo’s arrest on June 10, 2026, by officials of the Anambra State Government following allegations concerning his activities and relationships with members of his church.

One of the charges relates to alleged propagation of the accumulation of wealth through supernatural means, an offence reportedly prohibited under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025. Other allegations before the court include murder, abduction and unlawful separation or isolation of individuals from their families.

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The prosecution also alleged that some people were kept at Anazodo’s residence against the wishes of their families.

The pastor’s case attracted widespread attention after allegations emerged that he had taken as many as 75 married women away from their husbands and regarded them as his wives.

Reports at the time quoted purported victims and relatives as alleging that some women were persuaded to leave their marriages, while other allegations involved alleged wife-swapping among members of the church.

Authorities also reportedly found about 11 babies at Anazodo’s residence during his arrest. He was quoted as saying the children were his and were born to 11 of his wives.

He was also reportedly unable to give authorities a definite figure for the number of women he had married or the total number of children he had.

However, the allegation involving 75 married women has not been established by the court. It forms part of the broader allegations surrounding the case and should not be treated as a proven fact.

After the arraignment, Anazodo’s lawyer, W. O. Abonyi, applied for his client’s release on bail.

Prosecution counsel, C. V. Ononye, opposed the immediate consideration of the application, arguing that the prosecution had not received adequate notice and needed time to respond.

Justice Obiora did not determine the bail application immediately and instead ordered that the defendant be taken back to the hospital.

The court fixed October 12, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and further proceedings.

The prosecution will be required to establish the allegations against Anazodo as the case progresses, while the pastor remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until a court determines otherwise.

The proceedings are being closely watched in Anambra because of the unusual nature and scale of the allegations, particularly the claims concerning marriages, children and alleged restrictions on individuals’ relationships with their families.

Anambra Pastor Accused of Taking 75 Married Women Appears in Court in Wheelchair