Asylum seeker denies arson

The trial is expected to last for three months

A jury has heard a pastor describe how a chapel service at an asylum seekers' detention centre ended with the worshippers fleeing from fire.

James Awosile, a Nigerian-born pastor who was seeking asylum in the UK, said he had just begun leading his congregation in prayer at Yarl's Wood in Bedfordshire when a detainee started thumping on the door and shouting "trouble, trouble".

He said he and several worshippers followed the man to the locked door of a secure lobby, where a woman asylum seeker had been pinned to the ground by Group 4 officers.

"I stayed there for a few minutes before returning to the chapel to resume the service, but then the lights went out," Mr Awosile told London's Harrow Crown Court.

When he heard shouts about a fire, he said he went to his room to collect his immigration papers, before he saw flames and escaped through a window.

Arson charge denied

He gave evidence on Thursday on behalf of fellow countryman Henry Momodou, 39, one of five people who deny violent disorder at the Home Office detention centre between 13 and 16 February, 2002.

Mr Momodou also pleads not guilty to an allegation of arson at the sprawling complex.

The court heard the trouble was triggered by the incident involving the woman.

Nigel Rumfitt QC, prosecuting, has alleged Mr Momodou played a "prominent role" in the night's events, by trying to break into the lobby area and later by damaging fittings.

He also claimed the defendant was heard asking for a cigarette lighter shortly before a pile of papers he was bending over burst into flames.

But the asylum seeker has told the court he was in the chapel when the centre was set alight and later went to his room.

One defendant cleared

Mr Awosile said he could vouch for the defendant's presence at the chapel, but the next time he remembered seeing him was outside following his escape from the building.

Cross-examined by Isabella Forshall, defence counsel for another defendant - 24-year-old Kayode Abdul - the pastor agreed her client had also been among the worshippers.

In the dock with Mr Momodou and Mr Abdul are Behar Limani, 26, Jgergi Tuka, 25, and Lucky Jacobs, 23.

A former co-defendant, Naseem Mosstaffa, 31, left the dock earlier in the trial after admitting affray, but being cleared on the judge's orders of any further wrongdoing.

Three others, Klodjan Gaba, 23, Agron Kastrioti, 19 and Thomas Kalu, 32, were similarly acquitted of the violent disorder allegation following legal submissions.

The trial was adjourned until Friday.