Court Upholds Suspension of Emeka from Assemblies of God Church

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The leadership crisis rocking the Assemblies of God Church was on Friday resolved by the Supreme Court in favour of the acting General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Chidi Okoroafor, and the church.

The court dismissed the appeal filed by the ex-general superintendent and pastor of the church, Paul Emeka, on the ground that his case lacked merit and substance.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the court held that it was wrong of Pastor Emeka to have instituted an action on the enforcement of his fundamental human right to association in a matter involving the church as a non-governmental organisation.

Justice Kekere-Ekun said that the provisions of fundamental human right as enshrined in section 36 of the 1999 constitution did not cover a pastor sacked and expelled by a church.

“Being a pastor, General Superintendent and member of a church is not a fundamental right as envisaged in the 1999 constitution. The remedy for the removal of the appellant as a pastor, General Superintendent and a member of the respondent does not fall within section 36 because the right to be a pastor is not a constitutional one,” she held.

Details later…