There was tension at the Anambra State High Court in Awka on Tuesday after people identified as supporters and church members of Pastor Harrison Anazodo allegedly confronted journalists covering his court appearance.

Anazodo, the General Overseer of Dayspring Assembly in Awada-Obosi, is facing a seven-count criminal case brought by the Anambra State Government.

According to eyewitness accounts reported by several Nigerian news outlets, supporters attempted to prevent journalists and cameramen from recording the pastor as he arrived at the court.

The supporters reportedly used umbrellas and their hands to shield him from cameras. As the vehicle conveying Anazodo reversed towards the court entrance, some journalists were allegedly pushed in the process.

Two or three journalists were reported to have had their mobile phones damaged during the confrontation. The supporters were also said to have filled available spaces inside the courtroom, leaving limited room for journalists and other observers.

The incident prompted Anambra State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, to raise the matter before the court.

Nweke condemned the alleged attack, stressing the importance of allowing journalists to carry out their duties within the court environment.

According to reports, the defence counsel subsequently apologised to the Attorney-General, the journalists and the court over the incident and agreed to replace the damaged equipment.

The court accepted the apology and directed that the affected gadgets be replaced.

The confrontation happened against the backdrop of Anazodo's ongoing criminal trial.

The pastor was arrested by Anambra State authorities in June 2026 and was later arraigned before Justice Jude Obiora on seven counts. The charges include alleged propagation of the accumulation of wealth through supernatural means, which the prosecution says is prohibited under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025.

He is also facing allegations involving murder, abduction and the alleged unlawful separation and isolation of individuals from their families and keeping them at his residence. Anazodo has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The case has attracted considerable public attention following allegations concerning the pastor's relationships with women associated with his church. Reports have described allegations involving dozens of women, but those claims remain part of the wider case and have not been established as facts by a final court judgment.

The court's proceedings have also been affected by Anazodo's health. He was previously brought before the court in a wheelchair after spending time receiving treatment at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka.

In the latest development, the court denied Anazodo's bail application, with the judge reportedly finding concerns including the possibility of interference with witnesses. The case was adjourned to October 16, 2026, for the prosecution to begin presenting its case.

The latest court developments mean the allegations against the pastor remain subject to judicial determination. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of law.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia