CAN condemns Sterling Bank over Easter advert

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has chided Sterling Bank PLC over the advertisement on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

CAN noted that the action of the Bank’s management may be tantamount to being hostile to the Christian faith.

“We learnt that the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has reportedly intervened in the matter with a view to impose some sanctions against Sterling Bank. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is waiting for the decision of the organization,” the statement said.

However, in the interim, we call for the We call on all Christians not to take the law into their hands in seeking redress, but to let the relevant authorities handle the matter.

“In case the management of the Sterling Bank is not aware, the resurrection of Jesus witnesses to the immense power of God Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, then He has power to raise the dead.

“If He does not have such power, He is not worthy of our faith and worship. Only He who created life can resurrect it after death, only He can reverse the mystery that is death itself, and only He can remove the sting and gain the victory over the grave (1 Corinthians 15:54–55). In resurrecting Jesus from the grave, God reminds us of His absolute sovereignty over life and death.

“The Empty tomb shows the supremacy of Jesus. Go to the grave of any other religious founder and his carcasses are still there being worship, but where Jesus was buried, it is boldly written; “He is no longer here, He has Risen”! The advertisement was provocative, according to the statement, “but we will refused to be provoked simply not only because it is not in our characters but it came from an uninformed mind of neither of the two leading religions in the country.”

Rwanda jails Chinese national filmed whipping men
A Rwandan court has sentenced a Chinese national for torture after a video showed him beating men tied on a tree.

The court on Tuesday sentenced Sun Shujun to 20 years in prison, a journalist who attended the court session told the BBC.

A Rwandan man said to be his employee was also sentenced to 12 years in jail for abetting torture.

The victims are reported to have been former workers at a mine operated by Shujun in Rutsiro district and who were allegedly linked to theft.

Shujun said he had previously warned thieves after his belongings were repeatedly stolen.

In August 2021, the three-minute video went viral in Rwanda and led to the arrest of Shujun – who was later released on bail.

The video was taken by angry workers and shared on social media.

The Chinese embassy in Kigali condemned “unlawful acts” in the video, local media reported.

Witnesses told the court that Shujun had erected a cross where those suspected of stealing from him were tied and whipped.