The leadership crisis rocking the Assemblies of God took a criminal dimension yesterday, as the the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice [AGF], Abubakar Malami (SAN), took over the prosecution of former General Suprintendent of the church, Professor Paul Emeka, for alleged forgery of his professorial certificate.
The church has been embroiled in leadership crisis for more than two years, culminating into the emergence of two factional leaders and multiple court actions.
Emeka was alleged to have forged a University of Derby Professorial Certificate, which he purportedly claimed was awarded to him by the authorities of the University of Derby, Derbyshire, England on the 24th day of August 2005.
According to the direct complaint filed before the court, he was alleged to have presented himself to the Assemblies of God Nigeria, as a professor from the university and based on his claim, he was made one of the trustees of the church.
The Federal Ministry of Justice, which recently took over the case file from the police yesterday informed a Gudu Upper Area Court, in the Federal Capital Territory [FCT], Abuja, that it was taking over the prosecution of the case in line with the provisions of section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act [ACJA], 2015 and the section 174 of the 1999 constitution.
When the matter was called yesterday, Mrs. I. A. Charles Okolie from the office of the AGF informed the court that the Attorney-General was taking over the prosecution of the case in the public interest.
She added that the above statutory provisions empowered the AGF to take over the prosecution or discontinue same without any explanation whatsoever so long as it is in the overall interest of the public.
Her move was, however, resisted by counsel to the defendant, J.U. Ajii, who drew the attention of the court to an order of the High Court of the FCT, staying proceedings at the Upper Area Court.
He argued that it would be against judicial precedents and disobedience to the hierarchy of the courts for the trial court to take further steps on the matter by granting the request of the AGF.
Ajii further moved the court to refuse the application, as the appropriate court to hear the said application was the FCT High Court issued by Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya.
The lawyer expressed shock over the presence of the prosecutor sent by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Meanwhile, the trial Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, told Barr J.U. Ajii, counsel to Emeka that he could not disobey the directives of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The court adjourned the matter till 19th of September to enable the Attorney-General prepare and amend the charges to Read, “Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs Rev. Dr. Paul Emeka.”
The Registered Trustees of the Assemblies of God Nigeria filed a direct criminal complaint against Emeka at the Upper Area Court, Gudu, Abuja, in a case No. CR/1081/15 pursuant to Section 88(1) and 90 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
On the 4th of February, 2016, the Presiding Judge, Justice Umar Yusuf Kargarko, ordered the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and produce Emeka for trial.
The police, however, refused to obey that order despite the acknowledgement of the receipt of the Court Order by the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit on the 17th of February 2016.
Consequently, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, who was contacted by the Counsel to the Incorporated Trustees of Assemblies Of God Nigeria, Barr Ifeanyi Nwaeze, directed the Director Of Public Prosecution(DPP) to take over the prosecution of the case.
The sun report.
*The Church is just disgracing itself.
Don't even know what to say
ReplyDeleteYawn!!!!!!
DeleteNo comment.
They keep giving people reasons to mock the church.
DeleteIt's a shame that this is my church
DeleteIt is the end times. Surely it is!
DeleteJust negodu
ReplyDeleteBuhari and his men are confused
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Buhari is also to blame for your parents not aborting you. Menstrual pad dey your brain
DeletePolitices everywhere even in the house of God.
ReplyDeleteif judgment starts from the house of God... I just wonda where others wud stand.
ReplyDeleteThis must be the handiwork of Buhari and APC. The Church is predominantly igbo.
ReplyDeleteSmart Alec...looking to raise a storm here anonymous 10.11
DeleteYou are not Igbo
You also are looking at turning this conversation to a partisan and tribal conversation.
Devlish Anony 10.11 you won't succeed with your planned tribal war hunny!
Satan be gone this minute!
it's heartbreaking for some of us who where raised in Assemblies of God church. like how do i still pay my tieth in that church when obviously this grown ass men are fighting over our tieth and offering... God help us all. the end time is here truly.
ReplyDeleteWhen they were collecting your tithe they should have taught you how to spell it. TITHE
DeleteDon't even blame your phone for this one. You don't know the spelling
DeleteOn that day, Judgement would start from the pulpit...
ReplyDeleteNa wetin dey follo be this if country too carry religion for head...
ReplyDeleteSerious disgrace. All because of money they are fighting each other. I wont be surprise if some of the pastors have not gone to babalawos to help them win against each other.
ReplyDeleteThe reason they are fake pastors and false prophets everywhere in Nigeria, is because people believe so much in these so called men who tagged themselves "men of God"
ReplyDeleteI will never forget how one of the assistant pastor of Assemblies of God Church, almost molested me in the Nineties.
My elder sister was an ardent member of one of the branches in one of the South Western branches. She was even a choir mistress and a Sunday school teacher, i on the other hand was an ardent Catholic/Charismatic Renewal member. I was one of the top executives in Students Union Fellowship in my high school, and also a very passionate member of Women empower group.
I went to visit my sister in the state she lives in, she was serving at that time; i had the extra keys to her apartment, so that evening my sister was supposed to be home but she was not around. I had my bath, prepared food and eat, then there was a knock on the door and i thought it was my sister (She was aware I'll be visiting), i opened the door and it was her assistant pastor, i greeted him and offered him water. Before he even asked, i told him my sister is was not around and i don't think she will be returning that night because it was already late.
He told me that my sister was expecting him and he was aware my sister will be coming home and that he will wait a little for her. I sat on one of the couches in my sister's parlour and i was reading "Every day woman". This man came so close to me that i had to get up immediately, went to sit in the dinning.
He came to the dinning and put his hand on my shoulder (I was almost 18 and a virgin, but i was already aware of things men do to women through the different groups i belong). I told him with a very low voice that he should get his hand off my shoulder, then, he immediately thought it wise that it was better he touched my stomach, before i know it, he was trying to touch my breast; then i shouted at him and told him i will break his head and also that i know judo. He told him how disgusting he was and how i will make sure i report him to my sister and also to his congregation the following Sunday! He was shocked, i told him he was a big disgrace to the Christendom and the body of Christ. I was saying all these on top of my voice, he quickly getup took his bible/bag and left.
When my sister came the following day, i narrated everything to her and she was shocked (Crying), saying she never knew that the man was not a true man of God. She went to report him to their head-pastor but nothing was done to him. He was still the assistant pastor until after few years, i heard he was now heading one of the branches. My sister has since left the Church, she's now RCC member, married to one of the pastors and also she is a teacher there too.
Anyways, I'm happy that i didn't give in to that snake who tagged himself as a pastor then. I believe in God with all my heart and i try as much as possible to follow and obey God's commandment. I forgive easily and give because i love to give selflessly but i will never be gullible enough to fall for the these men parading themselves as men of God.
I don't trust any of them (Pastors, priests, prophets/prophetesses). I trust God so much, i go to Church to hear the word of God but i refused to be religious.
My former gf changed church from rccg okota round about to rccg inside that okota school village because of the incessant attempt by the pastor in charge of the okota roundabout parish to have sex with her in his pastors office every close of service. I wasn't a member of their church but he couldn't help but tell me. This happened about thirteen years ago
DeleteIs there any tag like "assistant pastor" in Assemblies of God? Stop dropping lies here. There's no tag as such. And before anyone calls me a defender of crooked pastors, I despise Nigerian pastors as much as I despise 419 boys.
DeleteEnd time church
ReplyDelete"side eyes" @ T
SHAME! SHAME!! SHAME!!! on all the Assemblies of God church members who in one way or the other rolled the body of Christ on the dust.
ReplyDeleteThat allowed the uncircumcised philistines access into the matter concerning the Church of Christ.
That has continued to crucify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and who have continued to use the body of Christ for political gains!!!
That have continued to scatter the lamb/sheep of our Lord instead of keeping and feeding them as commanded by our Lord, Jesus Christ
The JUDGEMENT of God will come quicker than you think.
Shame on u to Edna u peice of shit. How dare u invole members of the church in this dirty crises, what's members business ? If u want drop a comment, pls drop a comment that shows u are sane and not a dumb comment like this. U think it's every member of assemblies that cares about the details of this dirt happening? No ! Some of us actually go to church to seek God and not for nonsense.
DeleteDs is bad,God shud cum already.
ReplyDeleteGod can never be mocked,they will all pay for this evil one day.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm
ReplyDeletemute!!
ReplyDeleteNawa ooo, so this AG ish is still on? Politics in church!
ReplyDeleteAnd my foundation as a child to my teenage years were fro Assemblies Sotey I be baptised member. Com marry for AG. assemblies get plenty drama. I don beg my mama to leave she no go hear. End time churches.
ReplyDeleteLeave go where? Redeemed? Winners? Christ Embassy? Where exactly? My dear, it is still the "best" penticostal church in the Zoo. Even though Naija pastors are crooks as far as I'm concerned.
DeleteChai Mrs Romas thank God for you. Na wa for some men of God. That is why the Christendom is being ridiculed because of all these men that appoint themselves and called themselves.
ReplyDeleteAnyway what a man sow he reaps that is sure banker.
Let me carry my bag and go home jare. today is somehow. the road is free for now
Just negodu how they are disgracing the church
ReplyDelete