Rev. Paul Emeka
The lingering leadership crisis at the Assemblies of God Church ended yesterday when the Nigerian Supreme Court affirmed the sack of the General Overseer, Reverend Paul Emeka, for violating the church’s rules.
The apex court, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the appeal brought by Rev. Emeka against an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu, which also affirmed his sack.
With this decision, the Supreme Court has finally settled the about three-year leadership crisis in the church, triggered by Rev. Emeka’s suspension by the Church’s General Council on March 6, 2014.
The council decided that Rev. Emeka violated several sections of the church’s constitution and bye laws, particularly, Article 12, which deals with taking or using any other person to initiate proceedings against the church in court for any reason.
The members were of the view that the General Overseer failed to exhaust the church’s internal mechanism for dispute resolution, as stipulated in its rules.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, in the lead judgment, upheld the decision of the lower court and said that Rev. Emeka’s suspension and dismissal were in order.
On his claim that he was not accorded fair hearing by the church’s council, as guaranteed under the Constitution, Justice Kekere-Ekun pointed out that there was remedy under Chapter 4 of the Constitution if indeed his right to fair hearing was violated.
The judge held the provisions of Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, on which the appellant hinged his appeal, was limited to proceeding in law courts, and not proceedings emanating from domestic meetings and standing adhoc tribunals – saying the right to be a member of a church was not a right recognized under Chapter 4 of the Constitution.
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