• We’ve Not Received Notification Of Any Offence — Adebogun

The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba has approved the suspension of The Rt. Rev’d Olukayode Adebogun, the Bishop of ADDOT and the Area Bishop of Canada Missionary Region Area 1 in Canada.

The Church said the Bishop’s suspension is with immediate effect pending when full investigation into his conduct and willful disobedience to the authority of the Primate General, and the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) will be concluded.

The suspension, which was conveyed in a statement published on the Anglican Cable News Network on January 30, 2024, by the Church’s Communication Officer, Mr. Korede Akintunde, read in part as follows: “This suspension is by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), acting pursuant to its inherent powers in the Constitution and Canons (Canon XVI 1 paragraphs (g) and (h) of the Constitution and Canons) to suspend any consecrated Bishop whether serving in Nigeria or outside Nigeria in relation to breaches of the said Constitution and Canons.

“The suspension refer to the series of utterances and actions attributed to Bishop Adebogun since the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria (CON) held at Nnewi from September 12 to 16, 2023, which seeks to undermine the authority and lawful directives of the Primate of the Church of Nigeria and the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria with regard to the Church of Nigeria Mission in North America and Canada generally, with regard to decisions lawfully taken by the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).”

According to the statement, the Coordinating Bishop of CONNAM, Bishop Nathan Kanu is to take over all responsibilities as a Bishop of the Church in North America pending when the assignment of a Canon Missioner Area to superintend Canada Missionary Region Area 1, in Canada and investigation into Bishop Adebogun’s conduct as a Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) will be concluded.

Reacting to his suspension, The Rt. Rev’d Adebogun said he was never reprimanded for any wrongdoing, adding that the letter of suspension was sent to him the same day it was published online.

Commenting on his Facebook page on February 1, Bishop Adebogu linked his suspension to his appearance in the contentious court case involving the dissolution of ADOTT. He said: “Dearly beloved, thank you for your prayers. Many have asked this question privately or publicly. What did you do? As of today January 31, 2024, we are innocent and have not received any notification of any offence, no reprimand, no query, no evidence presentation, and no trial, no meeting of Archbishops or Bishops to approve any charges or sentence. To the best of our knowledge and understanding, we have not violated any provision of the Constitution and Canons of the Church.”

Appealing for calm, Adebogun continued: “What you have in the public domain is all we receive same day and we appeal for calm as we go through this phase of life. It shall end in praise and the truth must and will prevail.

“We can confirm that along with other defendants, we received a court summons and I did the needful in attending the court hearing on January 29, 2024, at the Marion Superior Court, Indianapolis, USA.

This is my civic duty and to answer every question truthfully before the court without any embellishments. That is all we did! “The court summon is in relation to the proposed dissolution of the Anglican Diocese of The Trinity (by the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria) wherein we were elected on September 23, 2021; confirmed on October 31, 2021, and enthroned on November 21, 2021, as Diocesan Bishop. Members who felt the diocese should not be dissolved took legal action ahead of February 2, 2024 dissolution deadline after a series of communications and publications. I was named as a co-defendant as the Diocesan Bishop and not plaintiff. Beloved, we covet your sincere prayers and patience. God bless you.”