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Police Arrest Top CAC Pastors over leadership crisis
Operatives in the office of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Osogbo are grilling no fewer than eight top pastors of the Christ Apostolic Church(CAC) over a leadership battle tearing a faction of the Supreme Council apart.
They are being interrogated over allegations of conspiracy, stealing, impersonation and swearing to a false oath, among others.
Their interrogation followed a petition by some members of the church against eight pastors leading the faction.
The petition, among others, alleged that the said pastors were “illegally presenting themselves as the leaders of the Supreme Council otherwise known as The Constituted Authority under the guise to misrepresent, mislead and deceive members of the church and (the) public at large.”
It accused former General Superintendent and General Secretary Pastors J. A. Adeoloye and J. O. Oguntile respectively of retiring and planting their stooges in their positions with the sole aim of frustrating the faction to collapse into the General Executive faction. Besides, the petition alleged that they planted the junior pastors in their position to use them in siphoning church funds and drawing other personal benefits from the church after retiring.
The petition further accused the retired pastors of compulsorily retiring 30 other pastors along with themselves on the same July 1, 2018, a decision the petition said was against the constitution of the church.
The petition added that in spite of the above, seven other pastors conspired with the retired General Superintendent to appoint themselves as President, General Superintendent, General Evangelist, General Secretary, General Treasurer, Legal Adviser, and Publicity Secretary.
The seven pastors, according to the petition, claimed that they were appointed by the retired General Superintendent and General Secretary in November, 2018 whereas the duo retired on July 1, 2018. They made the claim on January 1, 2019. It wondered how retired officers can make new appointments.
The petitioners emphasised that of the seven alleged illegal appointments, that of the General Treasurer was done to enable the embattled pastors “gain access to the accounts of the church.”
With the appointment, the petitions said that the pastors have succeeded in changing signatories to the church’s bank account with a first generation bank.
The petition accused the pastors of withdrawing large sums of money from the church account from which they bought exotic vehicles for themselves.
To validate the appointments of the seven pastors, the petition claimed that the embattled pastors cooked up a list of attendees at a fake Supreme Council meetings dated July 17, 2018; August 28, 2018 and October 18, 2018.
Consequently, the petition said: “The above-listed persons and self-acclaimed leaders of Christ Apostolic Church are operating as an illegal body with no certificate of incorporation. The original and the only recognized certificate of the Christ Apostolic Church Nigeria (dated the 4th May of 1943 which was amended on the 16th day of December 1985 with Registration number 147) is in the custody and under the control of the authentic leaders of the church led by Pastor S. O. Ogundare.”
Confirming the interrogation, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the Legal Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department was handling the case. He said some of those alleged in the petition had given their statements as well as the petitioners, adding that the Zone was making arrangement to visit Ibadan to take statements from those who could not visit Osogbo to give their statements due to old age.
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has extended warm felicitations to Muslims in Nigeria and across the globe on the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Fitr.
In a statement to mark the end of Ramadan, Araraume highlighted the significance of the month long period of spiritual reflection, fasting, and devotion. “As Muslims gather with loved ones to share in the festivities, I join in the cheer, wishing everyone a blessed and peaceful Eid,” he said.
The Senator expressed profound appreciation to Muslim Nigerians for their contributions to the nation’s growth, describing their faith, resilience, and patriotism as beacons of hope. “Your unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s progress is truly commendable,” he stated.
As the country navigates its current challenges, Araraume called for unity, understanding, and collective effort. “Let us embrace the spirit of Eid, forgiveness, generosity, and kindness, to build a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come,” he urged.
Araraume also extended solidarity to President Bola Tinubu, a distinguished Muslim and the leader of APC, praising his visionary leadership and dedication to nation building. “President Tinubu’s commitment to serving Nigeria has been exemplary, and we assure him of our continued support,” he said.
Reaffirming the APC’s commitment to national prosperity, Araraume emphasized that the values of compassion, unity, and progress embodied by Eid align deeply with the party’s ethos. “As we mark this occasion, we reaffirm our dedication to creating a Nigeria where faith and ethnic background are not barriers to success,” he concluded.
President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a high-level bilateral engagement aimed at strengthening ties between Nigeria and Britain.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, said the meeting will culminate in the signing of various Memoranda of Understanding and agreements, including those on trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
The statement said the meeting reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations, attracting foreign investment, and modernising key infrastructure to support economic growth.
It added that a major highlight of the visit was the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Morning Recap: Nigeria, Britain set for fresh security alliances, Saudi Arabia declares Friday Eid-el-Fitr, other top stories
The statement said the deal will fund the refurbishment of two key maritime infrastructures — the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The President and the First Lady had earlier been the guests of their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.
Tinubu was accompanied by a high-profile delegation, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.
Other members of the delegation include Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa; National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
Morocco have been officially crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the CAF Appeal Board overturned the result of the final against Senegal. The decision comes after extraordinary scenes in Rabat where the Lions of Teranga walked off the pitch in protest, leading to a retrospective 3-0 forfeit victory for the host nation.
In a detailed statement, the CAF Appeal Board confirmed that the appeal lodged by the FRMF was “declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.” This landmark ruling effectively strips Senegal of what would have been their second continental crown, rewarding the hosts for a match that descended into chaos during extra time.
The roots of the controversy lie in a heated moment deep into stoppage time when Morocco’s Brahim Diaz went down in the box. While the referee initially waved play away, a VAR review resulted in a spot-kick for the hosts. This sparked a furious reaction from the Senegalese bench, with head coach Pape Thiaw instructing his players to return to the dressing room in a protest that lasted several minutes.
The CAF Appeal Board found that “the conduct of the Senegal team falls within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.” By leaving the field of play, Senegal was deemed to have infringed on the regulations, leading to the administrative 3-0 defeat. The ruling sets aside the previous CAF Disciplinary Board decision and confirms that the protest lodged by Morocco has been fully upheld
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