The Federal High Court convened in Ikoyi, Lagos State to resume hearings on a case brought forth by the registered Board of Trustees (BOT) regarding the illegal dissolution of the board on 3rd May 2021 by Pastor Rev EMF Oshoffa. The central issue at hand was whether the Pastor had the constitutional authority to dissolve a registered Board of Trustees.
The courtroom, presided over by Justice Peter O. Iifu became the stage for a legal battle as counsels from both sides presented their arguments before his Lordship. It was known that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Honorable Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, granted legal authority (fait) to Justice Iifu to make a ruling on the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
Following a heated exchange of legal arguments, the Pastor’s counsel presented a letter from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, purportedly restricting Justice Iifu from delivering a ruling despite the granted authority. However, Justice Iifu rejected the letter, asserting his constitutional power to rule on the matter in accordance with the granted authority (fait).
In his ruling, Justice Peter Iifu determined that the court would proceed with a full-scale hearing of the case, as the arguments presented by the counsel for the Pastor lacked merit in requesting the court to strike out the matter. The judge noted that previous attempts at resolution, such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s peace meeting and Justice Okafor’s mediation had been unsuccessful in bringing the parties together. Additionally, Justice Ajakaye (Rtd), a member of the Church, had led a peace reconciliation meeting but was unable to make a peaceful recommendation before the Pastor announced the dissolution of the Board of Trustees. Therefore, the court would not entertain any further mediator requests and would proceed with processing the matter, as both parties had submitted their interlocutory arguments.
The case will resume fully once a new judge is assigned to take over, as Justice Peter Iifu has been transferred to the Abuja Division of the court. He completed his assignment after securing a fait order to rule on the legality of the matter before the court.
12th of March 2021, when the Pastor address the Church on the dispute between him & the BOT.
Letter released by the registered BOT to inform the Church for a meeting at CCC Makoko National Headquarters, Lagos on the crisis.
When the registered BOT address the Press men at CCC Makoko National Headquarters on the dispute & financial statement of the church.
Letter announcing the dissolution of the registered BOT.
