Lawyer clarifies court order on dismissed pastor
A legal practitioner, Maxwel Opara has debunked claims that an FCT High Court ordered the reinstatement of former District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Reverend Chris Anyanwu. Justice Othman Musa had in the order made in July, 2015 quashed Anyanwu’s suspension on the grounds that he was not given fair hearing as provided […]
A legal practitioner, Maxwel Opara has debunked claims that an FCT High Court ordered the reinstatement of former District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Reverend Chris Anyanwu.
Justice Othman Musa had in the order made in July, 2015 quashed Anyanwu’s suspension on the grounds that he was not given fair hearing as provided by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
The judge held that the allegations of mismanagement of funds by the church are matters for which the minister can be arraigned in court, and not by an administrative panel of inquiry set up by the church.
In a press briefing recently, Maxwel Opara said the order made by the court was specifically that he was not given fair hearing, adding that there was no order for his reinstatement.
“The court can only grant you what you asked for. The judgment only nullified his suspension not his dismissal as District Superintendent and excommunication as a member of the church. The judgment did not also say he is still the Abuja District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church,” he said.
“He took the church to court up to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme has given judgment and that is why he was ejected from the secretariat. Now that he has gotten his judgment, he ought to write to the national secretariat and ask them to recognize him.”
Also speaking, Reverend Hyacinth Ngene, who identified himself as the real District Superintendent of the church, said Anyanwu never responded to the allegations at the Investigative Panel that he has no certificate.
“Let it be on record that this is the first time a member of a church, not to talk of leader of church, will take the church to court, it is a sacrilege,” he said.
He said Anyanwu was also excommunicated from the church alongside the factional General Overseer, Reverend Paul Emeka and 14 other ministers in a letter dated November 1, 2014 following a resolution of the 35th General Council Meeting of the church in Okpoto, Enugu State on October 28 to 31, 2014.
Those joined in the suit with number: FCT/HC/CV/1889/2014 filed by Rev. Anyanwu are: Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor (Asst. Gen. Superintendent), Rev. Ngene (Asst. District Superintendent), Rev. Tony Ese (District Secretary), Rev. Godwin Agada (District Treasurer), and Rev. Ugwu (District Presbyter), among others as respondents.