Celestial Church Falsifies Leadership Controversy

Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), was accused by some group of people when they say some of its leaders have debunked some statements making the rounds which they described as misguided and aimed at tarnishing the image of the church.
The leaders also called for peace and unity in the church.
Speaking at a press briefing Wednesday in Lagos, a member of the church Board of Trustees (BoT) and Pastor-in-Council, Evangelist Samson Banjo, said the church had been portrayed in negative light by some self-seeking individuals who cashed on the current crisis facing the leadership of the church.
Banjo who frowned at the unpleasant development, noted that the crisis began on December 24, 2005, when one Godwin Bolanle Shonekan who had been excommunicated in 2004 for illegal and anti-church activities, "showed up at the Christmas convocation of the church in Celestial city Imeko Holy Land in Ogun State, with a group of thugs with the intention of declaring himself pastor of the church, but he was prevented, arrested by the police and later charged to court."

Addressing journalists, he stated that the church decided to take him to court to restrain him from further similar atrocities, adding: "In March 26 this year, the trial judge, Justice A.O Asenuga, ruled that the self-proclamation of Shonekan as the pastor of the church is unconstitutional," and therefore ruled that the appointment of a pastor requires the re-articulation of a new constitution.
The clergyman further stressed that the BoT as one of the defendants, has appealed against the court ruling, noting that the summary of the decision is subject to the outcome of the appeals filed against the judgements.

According to him, "The church does not have a lawful and duly accredited pastor for the time being. Any assertion, representation, claims, and pretention by any person or persons, including the ill-advised and baseless self-declaration of Senior Evangelist Tosho Oshoffa to the Pastorship or leadership of the church is fake, and not genuine, a figment of imagination and an exercise in futility which carries grave risk of contempt of court.

"We therefore advise the public to ignore such representation in its entirety."
Banjo further expressed hope that when the drafting of the new constitution which the church has been working on since three years ago is completed, it will be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and any necessary action for the restructuring of the church could be legally taken.
In the meantime, he said both the BoT and pastor-in-council are making appropriate arrangements for the smooth, proper and peaceful running of the affairs of the church at all parishes worldwide.
It could be recalled that amid dissenting voices from certain quarters within the fold of the CCC worldwide, Elders and Shepherds of the church recently called on aggrieved parties to sheathe their swords, unite and embrace peace in order to achieve greater height and the right direction for its flocks