More Trouble In Sapele Anglican Diocese As All Committees Allegedly Dissolved By Primate Remain Validly Constituted, Operational

By Admin 

The concerned members of the Rescue Sapele Diocese Group of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) have said all the committees that were allegedly dissolved by the primate remain validly constituted and operational.

The concerned group said the primate does not possess the absolute or unilateral powers to suspend members or dissolve duly constituted church committees outside the clear provisions of the church's constitution and established canons.

The concerned group, “Rescue Sapele Diocese,” disclosed this in a press statement that was made available to journalists in Asaba, Delta State.

The press statement title; Re: Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Dissolved Committee, Groups, and Suspends Officials At St. Luke's Cathedral, Sapele, 

The group said they formally and unequivocally reject and condemn the purported suspension of members of some churches and the alleged dissolution of church committees by the Primate and his proxies.

The group added, “These actions are unconstitutional, procedurally flawed, and of no effect whatsoever, saying at no time were the affected members afforded due process, a fair hearing, or the involvement of the appropriate ecclesiastical and constitutional bodies as required by the governing instruments of the Church.”

The said, “The Primate, whether acting personally or through proxies, does not possess absolute or unilateral powers to suspend members or dissolve duly constituted church committees outside the clear provisions of the Church’s Constitution and established canons.”

They maintained that “all members purportedly suspended remain full and bona fide members in good standing, and all committees allegedly dissolved remain validly constituted and operational."

They noted that "any actions, directives, or appointments arising from these purported suspensions or dissolutions are null, void, and unenforceable.”

“The Church is not governed by arbitrariness or personal discretion, but by law, order, accountability, and collective leadership.”

“Any attempt to rule by proxy, intimidation, or administrative fiat undermines the unity of the Church and contradicts its spiritual and constitutional foundations.”

“We call on all clergy and laity to remain calm, prayerful, and resolute, and to disregard any directives that do not comply with due process and constitutional authority.”

"We further affirm our commitment to lawful, peaceful, and transparent resolution of all disputes within the framework of the Truth, Equity, and Justice.

“All necessary steps, where appropriate, will be taken to safeguard the integrity of the Church, its institutions, and its members.”

They, however, accuse Bishop Blessing Erifeta of reckless spending of diocesan funds to the tune of about ₦900m, running the diocese-owned school as his personal business by coercing the school to make donations to Diocesan programme from resources that should have been strictly committed to the development of the school, the bishop's wife’s refusal to render the women's accounts, and personalizing women's activities.

Other allegations are withdrawal of N4m and other sums from the women’s account for Bishop Erifeta’s personal business and involving the diocese in frivolous loans for the purchase of choice cars, among which is a Mercedes 4Matic Jeep believed to be worth no less than N11 million as of 2014, and other personal business without diocesan board approval.

"Absence of due process, accountability, and probity in administering the finances of the Diocese; refusal to pay into the Diocesan account the proceeds from the sale of the first Diocesan car purchased by Ven. O.N. Emebeyo; incessant transfer of Diocesan funds to his children’s bank accounts by the accounting officer; coercing the women of the Diocese to budget funds for the Bishop’s wife's foreign trips. No diocesan board approval and many more.