Court adjourns Church’s property suit to February 13

A Federal High Court, Ibadan, has adjourned a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustee of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Nigeria, over properties belonging to the church.

Justice Uche N. Agomoh adjourned the suit when the case came up for mention.

The Incorporated Trustee of CAC filed a suit against some church members over allegations of parading themselves as leaders of CAC.

The plaintiff also accused the defendants of using its properties, despite some of them ceasing to be members of CAC.

The first to sixth defendants in the suit are Incorporated Trustees of Christ Apostolic Church Supreme Executive Worldwide, Pastor Henry Ojo, Pastor James Onagwa, Pastor Ejide Aladesaye, Pastor R.A. Kolawole and the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Counsel to the plaintiff, A.A. Akanbi, represented by Abiodun Ayodele, prayed the court for an adjournment when the matter came up last week.

Ayodele based his prayers on the fact that the case was coming up for the first time and that the defendants needed time to respond.

Ruling, Justice Agomoh adjourned the case to February 13, 2025, for mention.

The plaintiff in its writ of summons sought a declaration that the first defendant church is a different body from and is not an extension of a ministry under or any other body which is an appendage of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria.

The plaintiff, among other prayers, is seeking: “A declaration that the 2nd- 5th defendants can no longer continue to parade themselves as leaders of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria after having registered the 1st defendant in which they are trustees.”

“A declaration that all properties acquired, owned and /or held in the names of the plaintiff remain the bonafide properties of the plaintiff.

“A declaration that all properties acquired for and on behalf of the plaintiff or through the use of funds belonging to the plaintiff whether held in its name or not are the bonafide properties of the plaintiff.”

The plaintiff asked the court for “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd-5th defendants, whether by themselves or through their servants, agents or privies, from further parading themselves either as President, General Superintendent, General Secretary, General Evangelist or as a leader howsoever called, of the plaintiff.”