A Former General superintendent of Assemblies Of God Nigeria , Rev. Paul Emeka has
sued the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, 12 commercial banks, Inspector General of Police Mr Ibrahim Idris, Enugu State Police Commissioner Mr Danmallam and 10 others at the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu for N2.8 billion in three separate suits.
Others Paul Emeka added as defendants in the suits are Rev. John Ogbale
Ikoni Retired General Secretary of Assemblies Of God Nigeria, Rev. Chidi Agodi Okoroafor General Superintendent of Assemblies Of God Nigeri, Rev. Vincent Akin Alaje General Treasurer of Assemblies Of God Nigeria, Rev. Godwin Mekedo Idogo Retired EC Member, Rev. Johnson Okorie Odii Retired EC Member, Rev. Charles Ogbonnaya Osueke Retired General Superintendent of Assemblies Of God Nigeria, Rev. J. V Edivri EC Member,Rev Pastor Ejikeme Ejim Assistant General Superintendent of Assemblies Of God Nigeria and Rev. Godwin Akpan Amaowoh General Secretary Assemblies Of God Nigeria.
The12 banks included in the suit are Union Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Access Bank Plc, ECO Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Skye Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc and AG
Homes Savings and Loans Plc.
Paul Emeka, who is suing through his appointed attorney, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo in suits number FHC/EN/CS/120/2017, FHC/EN/CS/121/2017 & FCH/EN/CS/122/2017, is seeking several reliefs among which he wants the court to declare that the act of first defendant (CAC) by complying with the instruction of the defendants and subsequently including two defendants as trustees of Assemblies of God Nigeria body and consequential issuance of certificate No. CAC/IT/NO. 349 dated 30th day of April, 2015, was done without following due process of law.
“Moreso, when defendants were aware that the plaintiff was in court pursuing his legal right, a body that has respect for rule of law which the CAC ought to be, would have waited for the outcome of the court proceedings having been aware of same.
“The certificate issued containing two other people in the incorporated trustees
of the church is null and void ab intio, consequently, Certificate No. CAC/IT/
NO. 349 be set aside,” Emeka pleaded in the Suit.
The plaintiff also prayed the court to declare that the CAC’s act with other
defendants against him was outrageous and merits punishment as it portrays
malice, fraud, cruelty, flagrant disregard to due process and the rule of law.
In the suit No FHC/EN/ CS/121/2017, the plaintiff wants a declaration of the
court that the acts of the other defendants by purportedly giving instructions and
interfering with the bank accounts of the Incorporated Trustees of Assemblies of God, Nigeria, making withdrawals therefrom, purportedly on behalf of the Assemblies of God, Nigeria, on the bank balances held by the 12 banks in the suit without any lawful authority and changing the mandate by excluding the plaintiff within the period the 15th of April, 2014 up till 24th day of February, 2017, was fraudulent.
“They were aware at that time that the plaintiff was in court pursuing his legal
right, a body that has respect for rule of law would have waited for the outcome of the court proceedings. All the instructions and withdrawals on the instruction given to the banks by the defendants purporting to be the act of the Assemblies of God is illegal, null and void and same be set
outside forthwith.
“An order directing the
defendants to render accounts to the plaintiff regarding all the assets, including bank accounts operated by them illegally during the period they held themselves out as the directing mind of the first defendant by illegally excluding the plaintiff.
“An order directing the 12 banks to return into the bank accounts of the first defendant
(Incorporated Trustees of
Assemblies of God, Nigeria) all the withdrawals made by the other defendants without legally recognised Certificate of Incorporation as shown in Certificate of Registration
CAC/IT/NO 349, dated 18th September, 2012.”
Rev. Emeka equally prayed
the court to declare that the
unlawful acts of the banks and failure to protect the assets of the church, which is the duty of a body that has respect for rule of law, particularly having been aware of the pendency of the suit of the plaintiff since April 15, 2014, was outrageous, merited punishment and disclosed malice, fraud, cruelty, flagrant disregard to due process of law.
While in the suit No. FHC/ EN/CS/122/2017, Rev. Emeka seeks a declaration of court that without any order from a court of competent jurisdiction, the defendants could not interfere with
the rights and privileges accruing to the plaintiff as the general superintendent
and the trustee of the first defendant. And that the plaintiff was entitled to retain
and peacefully enjoy his post house accommodation at No.
8, Link Road, Independence Layout, Enugu.
“A declaration that the acts, embarrassment, illegal prosecution and the interference with the
plaintiff’s authority and rights over the affairs of the first defendant, between the
period of 5th April, 2014, and 24th day of February, 2017, are outrageous, and merit
punishment as it discloses malice, fraud, cruelty and flagrant disregard to due process and rule of law.
“An order of exemplary/ aggravated damages in favour of the plaintiff in the sum of N500 million against the IGP, Enugu State Police Commissioner and nine
other defendants jointly and severally for their illegal acts, which is outrageous and with fraudulent intentions in total disregard for rule of law and constitutionality.
In a statement of claim, Rev. Emeka stated that the Corporate Affairs
Commission, knowing full well that his removal was a subject of litigation between him and nine
other defendants, with its eyes open, wilfully and unconstitutionally removed him and issued a Certificate No. CAC/1T/NO. 349 dated 30th of April, 2015, to other defendants.
PUO REPORTS recalled that the Supreme Court on the 24th of February 2017 Dismissed the Appeal filed by Rev Paul Emeka against the Judgement of Justice Emmanuel Agim led Panel of Appeal Court Justices which had upturned the Judgement of Justice Anthony Onovo of the Enugu State High Court.
The Supreme Court it its ruling declared that the Position of General Superintendent of Assemblies Of God Nigeria is not Rev Paul Emeka’s Fundamental Human Right and that the General Commitee of Assemblies Of God Nigeria was right to Suspend him on the 6th of March 2014
