Sir James Louis Okoye, a former Catholic Knight of St John International who denounced Christianity during the official opening of Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, Nnewi, in January over non-recognition of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, has been arrested.

In a video that went viral, Okoye, also known as Ebube Anaedo, was reportedly seen last Saturday wearing a red dress with a fresh palm frond between his lips, with a bell in hand, performing what he believed was the ritual cleansing of the land on the streets of the town.

His actions reportedly attracted the attention of passersby, who allegedly alerted local vigilante operatives. The operatives were subsequently seen questioning Okoye in the video.

During the questioning, Okoye reportedly maintained that there were several evil happenings in Nnewi that needed to be addressed. Click to view Okoye marching through the streets of Nnewi before his arrest.

He also claimed that he had obtained permission from the traditional ruler of Nnewi to carry out the exercise, insisting that he had committed no offence by engaging in the cleansing activity.

It could not be immediately established where he was being held or whether any formal charge had been brought against him.

The former knight gained popularity in January, during the official consecration of the Nnewi Catholic Cathedral, where he decried the non-recognition of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who he believed built the cathedral to almost completion before his death.

He was captured on video then, as he removed his shoes and his knighthood hat while stepping out of the cathedral, declaring, “Ifeanyi Ubah ndo.”

While stepping out of the gate, he dusted his shoes and shouted “Akachaam,” a sign that he was done with Christianity.

His protest was geared toward bringing attention to the fact that not once did the church recognise Ifeanyi Ubah’s efforts in building the church. He apologised to the late Ubah and renounced Catholicism over the matter.

The matter had generated huge controversy in Nnewi, leading to his being excommunicated by the Knight of St John International.

Since then, very little has been heard of him until Saturday, when he was reportedly arrested.

In a short video showing Okoye sitting on the floor and being interrogated in what looked like a vigilante office, the former knight of the church said he was engaged in a cleansing exercise for Nnewi land because the community had been desecrated.

He insisted he had done nothing wrong by engaging in the cleansing, insisting that he was doing it for the good of Nnewi town. Click to view detainee being interrogated.

He also informed the men interviewing him that he took permission from the traditional ruler of Nnewi town, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, before embarking on the exercise.

Meanwhile, some netizens who also saw the controversial former knight during the exercise said he had become insane. They attributed his alleged insanity to his fight against the church, while others insisted he had not done anything wrong as he was only practising his religion and had not done anything wrong to anyone.

It was unclear at the time of this reporting whether he has been released by the vigilante operatives.

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