A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, Abuja, has voided the suspension of Rev. Nicholas Anyanwu as the District Superintendent of the Abuja District of the Assemblies of God Church, Nigeria.
Justice O. A. Musa also declared as unlawful and a nullity, all processes leading to the suspension of Rev. Anyawu by some of the church’s leaders, without affording him the opportunity of fair hearing as guaranteed under Section 36 of the Constitution.
Some senior members of the church, led by the Assistant General Superintendent, Chidi Okoroafor, accused Anyawu of allegedly mismanaging church fund.
They accused Anyanwu of mismanaging the church’s funds in 2014, and proceeded to set up a panel, which found Anyanwu guilty.
Anyanwu, who faulted the panel, accused it and the church of denying him the right to fair hearing and to present his case.
Justice Musa in his July 5 judgment was convinced that the applicant proved his case.
He said: “To this end, I disagree with the submissions of the respondents and dismissed same and, therefore, enter judgment for the applicant.”
He thus granted the applicant’s reliefs and prayers, and declared that the allegations of mismanagement of funds, stealing and/or conversion of church funds constitute criminal offences for which the applicant ought to be tried before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The judge also declared that by the provision of Section 36(1) of the Constitution, the allegations of criminal offence against the applicant could only be tried by a competent court and not by an administrative panel of inquiry or investigative panel set up by the respondents.
Justice Musa, who voided the findings and recommendation of the investigative panel, declared the May 16 20014 decision as illegal.
The judge also declared illegal, the subsequent oral public announcement, of the applicant’s suspension, through the various pastors of the Assemblies of God Church in Abuja on May 18, 2014. He awarded N2 million in cost against the respondents and in favour of the applicant for the malicious publication of the purported suspension in a national daily.
Anyawu thanked God for vindicating him, saying he has forgiven those behind his ordeal.