Appoints Archbishop Odufuwa as Acting Primate
The Management Committee of The African Church has suspended its Primate, Julius Olayinka Osayande Abbe, pending the conclusion of investigations against him by a panel to be duly constituted by the executive committee, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 134.5 to 134.9 of The African Church Constitution (2014).
The suspension order was announced, yesterday, during a media briefing held at The African Church Lagos Southwest Diocese, Ebenezer Cathedral, Somolu, Lagos.
Meanwhile, the church has empowered the Most Rev. Augustine Afolabi Odufuwa, the most senior Archbishop, to act as Primate of the church. A statement, titled: “Setting the records straight: Upholding truth, constitutionality, and unity in The African Church,” and signed by the Acting Lay President, Pius Adedayo Sobambo, outlined constitutional breaches, which the church alleged that Abbe violated.
Abbe was said to have sponsored ineligible candidates as against Section112.1(ii); manipulating conference resolutions as against Section131(viii); avoiding national meetings as against section 131(ix); shutting down the Secretariat without authority as against section 131(xii); issuing threats and intimidation as against section 131(iii) and 131 (xii); reversing duly adopted Conference decisions as against sections 131(x) and 131(xii).
The statement, which also alleged certificate saga as one of the reasons for Abbe’s suspension, further noted that Abbe failed to respond within the constitutionally stipulated 48 hours window given to him to do so.
However, The Guardian called the two phone lines of the suspended Primate for his reaction but they rang and he didn’t answer to respond.
