The appellate court in Ibadan has resumed hearing the appeal filed by the registered Board of Trustees challenging the removal of Rev. Pastor EMF Oshoffa by the State High Court in Ilaro, Ogun State back in year 2015.
On 23rd October 2024, the court took up the case with the physical appearance of Most Superior Evangelist S.O Banjo, who represented the registered BOT. The court then asked for the representative of the board, and the Doyen of CCC stood up, which was acknowledged by the court.
In a surprising turn of events, the lead counsel to the Pastor, who also serves as the secretary of the unregistered BOT, questioned the legitimacy of M/S/E Banjo addressing himself as a member of the Church BOT, which the Pastor had dissolved, he asked the court to arrest Most Superior Evangelist S.O Banjo for consent of court.
In response, the legal team of the registered BOT refuted the Pastor’s legal counsel’s claims and requested documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission approving the dissolution of the Board and consent to establish a new board, which the Pastor’s legal counsel failed to provide to the court.
The courtroom drama continues to unfold as both sides present their arguments. Then the presiding judge immediately cautioned the Pastor’s counsel not to confuse the court, emphasizing the importance of the Church serving as a conflict resolution centre rather than appearing in court for legal matters. The judge then inquired about the Pastor’s legal counsel’s position in the Church crisis and within the church hierarchy.
Surprisingly, the legal counsel did not disclose his role as the secretary to the unregistered Board of Trustees (BOT). Instead, he stated that he had chosen to observe the events in the Church from a distance, later expressing embarrassment at seeing the Church’s Doyen in court after his contributions to the church’s development.
The lead judge announced that the court would not adjourn the case again regarding the illegal dissolution of the Board of Trustees. Additionally, the court requested that the Pastor’s legal counsel provide a sealed letter from the government approving the dissolution of the Board, while the matter was adjourn till 26th February 2025.
