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Tag: Oritsejafor

  • $9.3m cash: Jonathan, Oritsejafor sued

    $9.3m cash: Jonathan, Oritsejafor sued

    Five  Nigerians  yesterday  approached  the Federal High court No 1 sitting in Kano  to compel President Goodluck Jonathan, and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor,  to unravel the mystery  surrounding the $9.3 million (N1.5 bn)confiscated by the South African government.

    The plaintiffs, led by Dr Saidu Ahmed Dukawa  who instituted  the matter, are seeking to compel President Jonathan  to explain the rationale behind the alleged transaction that culminated into the seizure  of  the money by the South African authorities.

    Their prayers includes the handing out of the details that would clarify the tag of illegal deal embellished on the transaction by the South Africans, while further urging the court to compel the president to disclose the identity of those arrested in the possession of the huge sum that was confiscated.

  • Softly, softly, Oritsejafor, Okoh

    Softly, softly, Oritsejafor, Okoh

    Leaders of the Christian fold in the country should not turn the body to a partisan platform

    Every time analysts and scholars dissect the Nigerian crisis of development, they are unanimous in returning the verdict that leadership is the bane. It appears that that same challenge has crept into the Christian fold as leaders of treasured moral platforms now take advantage of their positions to feed primordial predilections.

    It is unfortunate that a platform as formidable as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is being transformed into an organ of the presidency. Since Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor took the leadership of the umbrella Christian association, the Nigerian people, Christian and non-Christian alike, have observed that the relationship he cultivated with President Goodluck Jonathan and so flaunted has generally eroded the dignity of the office. Observers are sometimes tempted to see CAN as a parastatal of the Federal Government.

    This is a far cry from the standards set by Christ for all those who would follow and serve him and derogates from the vision of the founding fathers of the body. The recent scandal regarding the use of an aircraft owned by the CAN President to ferry $9.3 million to South Africa in circumstances that are yet shady is a blight on the organisation and suggests that many such things might have been on unknown to Nigerians. While it is taken that the CAN President merely owns the aircraft so used, there are still questions as to the role he might have played in getting the contract for the lessee. Besides, Pastor Orisejafor would not have been enmeshed in the moral crisis if he had not strayed from his primary calling – preaching the gospel. The rate at which pastors chase material things has become so alarming that Church leaders should call themselves to order.

    As if that was not enough, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) chose to give a Primatial award to the President last week. Everything about the award was wrong. First, why was it created? There is no record that anything like a Primatial award was ever given anyone before. Besides, the Church, beaming the light of the gospel ought to have acted above worldly standards. In Nigeria today, there are all sorts of awards worth nothing. They promote vanity and are designed to extract financial support from those in power. The Anglican Church failed to tell Nigerians the criteria for the award.

    Second, we feel uncomfortable by the timing of the award. There are so many questions that Nigerians are asking of their President. Insecurity has never been this bad, the Chibok girls are still in captivity, nothing has changed in critical sectors like education, health and employment. How then did the Church arrive at the decision? We can only imagine that the Church, wittingly or otherwise, has been dragged into the President’s re-election bid. The coincidence is too striking to go unnoticed – Primate Nicholas Okoh is Oritsejafor’s deputy in CAN and he is from Delta State, too.

    This time calls for discernment. Leaders of the Church should realise that they are meant to be ambassadors of Christ and shine the light to dispel darkness. We call on leaders of CAN to return to standards set by Prophets of old who spoke truth to power and were not fazed by the grandeur of the office of the monarchs.

    This is a critical time in the life of our country. It calls for true men of God to rise to the occasion and ensure that leaders are kept on their toes. The churches are non-partisan platforms and should not be dragged in the mud. Christians are of different political persuasions and should not be willy-nilly herded into narrow partisan choices. Primate Okoh and Pastor Oritsejafor should beware as we move closer to the next general elections.

    The reason this comment is necessary is not Christianity per se. But a huge chunk of the Nigerian population professes the faith and it has become a template of conduct and human relations in societies where they prosper. Its mores and values have permeated our society. Therefore, those who are charged to fend for the spiritual health of that critical cultural group must understand that their burden goes beyond the faith but it is also about faith in the sense of justice and wellbeing of Nigerians, whether Christians or non-Christians.

    For the leadership of one of the oldest Christian bodies in the country, even the world, to enmesh itself in a partisan stake is to demean what religion applauds in its highest form.

    Oritsejafor and Okoh ought to realise that faith belongs in the realm of the spiritual and not in the murky waters of the temporal. As the good book itself says, “to whom much is given, much is required”.

  • $ 9.3m saga: TEKAN berates attacks on Oritsejafor

    $ 9.3m saga: TEKAN berates attacks on Oritsejafor

    The Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria (TEKAN) has condemned the series of attacks against President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, over the leasing of his personal private jet for a cash-for-arms trip to South Africa.

    TEKAN’s President, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Dziggau, said the attacks against Oritsejafor were most unfounded and undeserving.

    He warned those condemning the CAN’s helmsman to desist.

    Dziggau, told reporters last week: “I struggle to understand the reasons why respectable publications and news outlets across Nigeria continue to allow quotes and release reports based on half-truths, hearsay and conjecture.

    “The facts surrounding the case- as far as the involvement of Pastor Oritsejafor goes – seem to be quite clear.

    “Although he has an interest in the plane, he has none in the company that operates the plane. He had no involvement in chartering the flight itself.

    “Indeed he does not even have an interest in the company which hired the plane and then chartered it to a third party.”

    The head of the 25-million member strong bloc with 13 denominations questioned the motives and timing of those attacking Oritsejafor.

    He added: “Pastor Oritsejafor is now trapped in a cacophony of accusation based purely on the dreameed up conspiracies of others.

    “Based on the facts of the case that have been made public so far, he is so far removed from the incident he surely cannot have had anything to do with it.

    “Next, these crackpots will be suggesting the flight attendants were part of the conspiracy, or maybe even the mechanics that refuel it.”

    He advised those calling for the head of Oritsejafor to allow investigations into the case concluded before crucifying him.

  • No plan to sue Oritsejafor, says BBOG

    No plan to sue Oritsejafor, says BBOG

    Members of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy have denied plans to sue the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

    The BBOG said that like every Nigerian,  the group would demand a probe by the Federal Government of the $9.3million scandal for every Nigerian to see.

    They also said several strange statements have been attributed to the advocacy by people who do not represent the advocacy.

    BBOG said it is a well-organised advocacy with well-respected leaders, who  represent them. The group added that any statement that is not made by one of the representatives should not be associated with the advocacy.

    A statement by the BBOG media spokesperson Abuja, Rotimi Olawale, said: “We have in recent times observed a ratchet of very strange statements being attributed to our Citizens Movement, the #Bringbackourgirls campaign for our 219 abducted Chibok girls. Recent news reports now quote anonymous individuals. Those statements do not represent the position of our Movement.

    “We are a well-organised citizens movement with appropriate leadership and official spokespersons who are mandated according to our public communication strategy to speak on behalf of our Movement.

    “Therefore, any public  statements not made by our leadership or officially designated spokespersons of our Movement should be discountenanced and ignored by the public because they do not represent the position of #BringBackOurGirls. Statements made by members not designated in their personal capacity cannot  and should never be attributed to our Movement.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, those designated to speak on behalf of the Movement at all times are the Co- Conveners of #BringBackOurGirls – Abuja Family— Hadiza Bala Usman, Oby Ezekwesili, Maryam Uwais, Saudatu Madhi. All members of our strategic team also speak on behalf of BBOG- Abuja Family, namely Jibrin Ibrahim, Bukky Shonibare, Florence Uzor, Rotimi Olawale, Aisha Yesufu, Maureen kabrik, Mariam Ikunaiye, Dauda Iliya and Tunji Olanrewaju

    “From time to time, our Movement can officially designate specific members to represent us and speak on our behalf on issues touching on our advocacy. In such instances, whoever that individual may be will represent our position and so  attribution to #BringBackOurGirls will be appropriate and in order.”

  • Oritsejafor, Falana clash over smuggled $9.3m

    Oritsejafor, Falana clash over smuggled $9.3m

    Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said yesterday that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor cannot divorce himself from the smuggling of $9.3m from Nigeria to South Africa ostensibly to buy arms.

    But Pastor Oritsejafor defended his integrity, saying  he knew nothing about the cash, which was taken into South Africa on September 2 in a private jet owned by Pastor Oritsejafor but leased to a company, has been seized by an agency of the South African government. Two Nigerians and an Israeli were ferrying the cash.

    The CAN president has defend his integrity, saying enemies of Christianity were linking him to the deal.

    Falana, in a statement in Lagos, contended that the explanation by CAN that the jet was leased to another company was an admission of the breach of the law.

    According to him, “ a jet registered for the facilitation of evangelism cannot be leased to another company  for commercial purposes  as churches are registered under part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) as  non-profit making organisation.”

    “If Pastor Oritsejafor is lucky that he is not prosecuted for breaching the CAMA, he owes Nigerians a public apology. The CAN leadership cannot afford  to engage in attacking its political opponents in a matter pertaining to the breach of the law,” Falana said.

    The lawyer, who also noted that the Federal Government, was relying on diplomatic resolution of the money laundering case pointed out that such effort will not yield any result.

    “Having not learnt any lesson from the disgraceful case of Chief James Ibori, the Federal Government is currently embroiled in an unnecessary controversy with South Africa over the arrest of two Nigerians and an Israeli for smuggling $9.3 million into that country.

    “The three suspects are alleged to have contravened the provisions of Section 30 of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act NO 38 of 2001 of South Africa, which stipulates that a person intending to convey an amount of cash in excess of the prescribed sum of $10,000.00 to or from South Africa ‘must report the prescribed particulars concerning that conveyance to a person authorised by  the Minister for this purpose’.

    “The centre applied for an order of interim forfeiture from a High Court for seizure of the fund. In granting the application, the court ordered that the fund be kept in the Reserve Bank for 90 days. Within that period the suspects are at liberty to convince the court why the fund was not declared. Otherwise, a final order will be made for the confiscation of the money.

    “As  the said sum of $9.3million  was not declared at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the suspects equally breached Section 1 of the Money Laundering Act 2011 of Nigeria which provides  that the transportation of cash or negotiable instruments in excess of $10,000.00 or its equivalent by an individual in or out of the country shall be declared  for the Nigeria Custom Service” which shall report same to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Economic and the Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” he said.

    Pastor Oritsejafor told the National Executive Council meeting of CAN that he was never a party to the movement of the $9.3m cash. “I want to assure you that I will not do anything to tarnish the image of Jesus Christ or compromise the divine standard of the church,” he said.

    “I believe that the primary institution that I owe any explanation to is the church. At the risk of being seen to be defending myself, I wish to confirm to the distinguished leaders of the church that the Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft in question is mine. The aircraft was presented to me as a gift by members of our congregation and ministry partners worldwide at my 40th anniversary of my call into the ministry.

    “May I be permitted to stress that the aircraft was not given to me by the President of Nigeria, neither was it a settlement for any political favour or patronage.

    “With the benefit of hindsight, the President of the country was a guest in our church during the anniversary celebration when the jet was presented to me.”

  • Seized $9.3m: Oritsejafor breached law – Falana

    Seized $9.3m: Oritsejafor breached law – Falana

    Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, on Monday said the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, whose private jet was allegedly used to smuggle $9.3 million into South Africa, breached the law and therefore cannot divorce himself from the controversy surrounding the money.

    Although Oritsejafor has denounced the two Nigerians and an Israeli arrested in connection with the money, Falana insisted that the influential pastor cannot dismiss the scandal with a wave of the hand, adding, “in recent time, some of our pastors have been indicted in the United Kingdom for investing church funds in business in violation of the Charity Act. “

    In a statement issued in Lagos, the rights activist contended that the explanation by CAN president that the jet was leased to another company is an admission of the breach of the law.

    He said, “A jet registered for the facilitation of evangelism cannot be leased to another company for commercial purposes as churches are registered under part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) as non-profit making organizations.

    “If Pastor Oritsejafor is lucky that he is not prosecuted for breaching the CAMA, he owes Nigerians a public apology. The CAN leadership cannot afford to engage in attacking its political opponents in a matter pertaining to the breach of the law.”

    Falana, who also noted that the federal government is presently relying on diplomatic resolution of the money laundering case pointed out that such effort will not yield any result.

    “Having not learnt any lesson from the disgraceful case of Chief James Ibori, the federal government is currently embroiled in an unnecessary controversy with South Africa over the arrest of two Nigerians and an Israeli for smuggling the sum of $9.3 million into that country.

    “The three suspects are alleged to have contravened the provisions of Section 30 of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act NO 38 of 2001 of South Africa which stipulates that a person intending to convey an amount of cash in excess of the prescribed sum of $10,000.00 to or from South Africa must report the prescribed particulars concerning that conveyance to a person authorized by the minister for this purpose.”

     

  • ‘Knocks for Okogie over Oritsejafor’

    ‘Knocks for Okogie over Oritsejafor’

    A group, the Christians United Against Boko Haram (CUABH), yesterday condemned Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie’s comments on Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

    CUABH said Cardinal Okogie was not in a position to talk because Nigeria was taken to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference under his watch.

    It urged the cardinal “to be mindful of his words and avoid being used by enemies of the Body of Christ”.

    Reacting to the $9.3 million cash for arms, Cardinal Okogie criticised Pastor Oritsejafor for establishing a university and his relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan, saying he had derailed from the essence of Christian leadership.

    But CUABH Secretary, Deacon Olusola Oyedokun, in a statement entitled: “Okogie: Those who live in glass houses”, said Cardinal Okogie’s attack on Pastor Oritsejafor was “hypocritical and unbecoming” of a man of his personality.

    Oyedokun, son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman and member of PDP Board of Trustees, Shuaib Oyedokun, said Cardinal Okogie could not compare his tenure to that of Pastor Oritsejafor.

    He said: “As CAN President, under whom a secular Nigeria was taken to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Cardinal Okogie has little moral ground to attack the integrity of Pastor Oritsejafor, whose name invokes apprehension in those who wish to entrench one religion over the other in Nigeria.”

  • $9.3m: Oritsejafor dragging Christianity into mud – Catholic Bishops

    $9.3m: Oritsejafor dragging Christianity into mud – Catholic Bishops

    The leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has accused the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, of smearing the image of the body, saying it was wrong for his private plane to be associated with the controversial arms deal in South Africa.

    The Bishops said military aircrafts could have been conveniently used for that purpose.

    Speaking on the BBC Hausa service monitored by our Correspondent in Kaduna on Wednesday, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos and President of CBCN, said they had been watching with “sadness how Oristejafor had been hobnobbing with the Presidency for long,” and accused the CAN chief of dragging Christianity into the mud.

    He faulted the way and manner Oritsejafor has been running CAN and urged the relevant authorities to investigate the matter dispassionately and ensure that those found guilty were punished.

    “It is not proper, the guilty must be punished. It is not acceptable for a Christian leader to be seen always with the President. We in the Catholic have always picked holes in Oritsejafor’s style of leadership in CAN and we even wanted to stop attending CAN meetings at the national level,” he said.

     

  • Oritsejafor, resign now?

    Oritsejafor, resign now?

    If Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is the president of Nigeria, the one who decides what must happen to the nation, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is the president and leader of the Christian community in the country. Like Jonathan, he came to the office fully prepared. He had served in different capacities in both the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Christian Association of Nigeria. He is expected to be one of the best prepared for the assignment, but, alas, as some feared, he has been an unmitigated disaster on the dais.

    The mistake that the Warri-born, Idahosa-trained pastor made was to think all it takes to lead Nigerian Christians is to show some flash and acquire some mannerism. His founding of the Word of Life church did little in educating him on finesse, subtlety, and diplomacy needed to preside over a community as vibrant and diverse as the Christian fold, and relate with leaders of other faiths.

    The CAN President needs to realize the need to draw the line between being an ethnic champion, a protégé of the big man in Abuja and providing purposeful leadership that would position Nigerians well at such a time as we are.

    But, why am I so concerned about the flamboyant pastor today? The news that his aircraft was involved in a botched attempt to either launder $9.3 million (about N150 million) or smuggle in arms from South Africa has further given heathens the impetus to pour invectives on Christians in Nigeria. They have seized the airwaves contending that the god that Christian leaders of our age worship is mammon, rather that the living God-the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Is this the ultimate culmination of the prosperity message that has replaced the salvation call?

    When the news first broke, while I understood that it could be true, I was willing to give the benefit of the doubt. I did not know that the Pastor was also involved in aviation business. By the way, did he register that aircraft for commercial purpose? Was it not presented as a tool for evangelism? Is this an indication as to what other “evangelists’” who gleefully purchased such machines may be doing with them? The church’s Public Relations Officer should go beyond dodgy answers to crucial questions and demonstrate that he is indeed a purveyour of the Truth that the Lord Jesus is and eternally stands for. When did the CAN President establish his business? Who are the owners (beyond the I hold residual interest in Eagle Air)? Has the business been remitting its tax as required of all businesses operating in Nigeria or did he present it as a vehicle for evangelism to dodge payments?

    Money reigns and rules the country. It also controls many church leaders and is beginning to seize the spirit of believers. With leaders who think more of cultural affinity and where their bread is buttered, how would the church rise to faithfully combat the anti-Christ raging in the North East now? We need to pray, but who are the leaders of worship and how sincere are they?

    The cleansing of the Nigerian state must start from the church. Genuine believers should rise and pray that the Kingdom of God should come to the Body of Christ in the country first. As we take time to pray that God will take control of the processes leading to the 2015 general elections, we have a duty to pray that the altar of God be consecrated. In many places, the altar has been desecrated. The leaders worship the Lord with their lips, but their hearts are far from him.

    At the moment, I can think of no better means of starting the fumigation of the House of God than Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor stepping down. It will serve both him and the Christian community better. He would then have time to actually seek the face of God, and there would be a fresh breath of air in the Church.

    What Nigeria needs now are true prophets of God who could say: Thus says the Lord. Men who, like the Apostles of old, evidently stand in the Presence of God and could command fire at the altar as Elijah did. We need prophets who could speak truth to power and not those corroded and compromised by those in and around the corridors of power. To find the way out of the Nigerian wilderness, we need those who do not seek to grope their ways out of the wilderness or, worse still, lead the people to and keep them in the wilderness. We need those who know God and are his oracles. We need those who have walked with the Most High and have his testimony that they are blameless.

    During the military era when another set of leaders took charge of CAN, they stood up to power and their impact was felt. Materialism meant nothing to them and they were steadfast. Leaders of the church must rise now before it is too late, realizing that God’s judgment shall start from the House of God.

  • I didn’t operate missing aircraft – Oritsejafor

    I didn’t operate missing aircraft – Oritsejafor

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has dissociated himself from the operation of an aircraft, Bombardier Challenger 600, which recently went missing.

    The aircraft, with registration number N808HG, is said to be owned by Eagle Air Company, a company in which Pastor Oritsejafor, reportedly has a stake.

    A statement issued by the Personal Assistant to the CAN president, Bayo Adewoye, in Warri on Tuesday, said Pastor Oritsejafor does not operate the aircraft, adding that inquiries on its current state should be directed to the company it had been leased to.

    “The Word of Life Bible Church has been made aware of the recent media interest regarding an aircraft (Bombardier Challenger 600, Registration No N808HG) owned by Eagle Air Company in which our Pastor, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, holds a residual interest.

    “On behalf of Pastor Oritsejafor, we can confirm that although he holds an interest in Eagle Air, the aircraft in question is not operated by Pastor Oritsejafor.

    The aircraft owned by Eagle Air Company, who have confirmed that since August 2, 2014, the aircraft has been leased to and is operated by Green Coast Produce Limited. This is a standard practice in the industry.

    “Any and all enquiries in respect of the day-to-day operations of this aircraft should be properly directed to the management of Green Coast Produce Limited. We will be happy to help the authorities with any enquiries,” Adewoye said.