HOW OLUMBA'S HAND CAME OUT FROM PICTURE AND SMASHED POISONED CUP OF TEA

By Eyo Charles

Some key witnesses to this astounding testimony are still alive. It happened physically. Leader Olumba Olumba
Obu's swift action had saved the life of (then Apostle) now Bishop Isaac Eke in his office in Apapa, Lagos.

He had just returned to Nigeria from India where he carried out extensive missionary works.

He got a job as group accountant with Agip Oil, a multinational corporation in Lagos where he controlled robust accounts of the firm from many states in Nigeria.

This was in the early 1980s. As ever, he was a strict adherent to the ideals and
doctrine of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, so that he endeavoured not to bend the company policy, financial rules or accept undue favours and gratifications.

As a result, he was seen as an odd man in the office, and one who was out to block illegal sources of income by staffers.

This made him unlikeable and unpopular to some of the personnel.

There was a particular salesman who would usually come to make spurious claims on mileage.

As an accountant Eke knew what should be the correct and standard claim.

He knew the implications of condoning such fraud. He had politely called on the man to redo the claim because if he
endorsed it for payment, at the end of the day, auditors would query no one else but him.

The man had refused to amend the claim, insisting that it was the same amount of claims he had always put up before Eke resumed work at the office. But Eke, too,
stood his ground by pegging it to the actual amount.

The man was not happy. But he tried to entice Eke to no avail.

The following month, the same man repeated the same outrageous claim.

Eke again stood his ground, and only
approved what ought to be the proper figure.

Very bitter, this man set about the plot to spiritually eliminate Eke.

He gave the sum of N300 to Eke's office
assistant who usually serve him tea.

N300 was a huge money in those days. He wanted him to poison Eke's tea.

The office assistant accepted the money and the poison.

One morning, Eke called for his coffee! And this was the most auspicious opportunity the conspirators had been
waiting for! The name of Eke's office assistant was Lawrence.

He had emptied the entire poison into the one small cup of coffee and brought it out in a tray! As he got near to Eke's table, the people present could only see how the tray fell off from Lawrence's hand, and
he staggered clumsily and the tea splashed everywhere.

The cup broke. Not knowing what had happened, those present in Eke's office felt sorry for the young man who at this time was dazed and seemed in pains.

Only him knew what had happened at that moment.

Next day he could not go to work. He became ill. He was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed.

The cause of the illness could not be ascertained. However, the Indian
doctor advised him that it was not a medical issue but should be taken to his village so that it can be treated in a native way.

At this time his health was swiftly deteriorating. His family rushed him to his village, Agenebode in Edo State
Nigeria.

The native doctor told him that his ailment does not require treatment but confession - that he had offended a priest of God! He warned him that he must
look for him; that only him (the priest) will save him if he confessed else there was no other way for him to be saved/cured.

Lawrence now told his family to take him back to his office in Apapa Lagos to meet with Eke whom he was sponsored to kill.

Eke was very surprised as he was rushed back to the office when his health had not improved! Lawrence pleaded that he needed private audience with him.

Eke said if what he had to say had anything to do with the office then many ears should hear it.

Lawrence pleaded with Eke to forgive and save him. He then mentioned the man who paid him N300 to poison Eke.

He said when he came out with the poisoned tea, from the Olumba's picture hung on the wall of Eke's office, a Hand came out and smashed the cup of tea
which he had poisoned and it fell off.

"When the Hand hit me it was like a heavy hammer. It had dazed me and I wobbled", he narrated, begging Eke
with tears to forgive him.

He told Eke that doctors couldn't diagnose his ailment and a native doctor, too, asked him to look for him if he wanted to live! A true man of God, Eke asked Lawrence to kneel down and he prayed over him, pleading with Leader Obu to have mercy.

He told them that power belongs to Leader Obu and that He teaches and practises love being the Holy Spirit personified.

The confession attracted all members of staff and made Lawrence and other staff to be very afraid of Eke.

As a result of the testimony, half of the staff, including Law begged for baptism.

Later, as Law was no longer comfortable and could not bear the shame any further he asked to be transferred to Kano which management had obliged.