Activist lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has asked the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, The Most Rev. Henry C. Ndukuba to reverse the suspension of the Area Bishop for Canada Missionary Region Area 1 in Canada, Rt. Rev. Olukayode Adebogun over alleged utterances and actions attributed to him.
Falana threatened to sue the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) if it failed to recall and reinstate Rt. Rev. Adebogun back to his office as Area Bishop for Canada Missionary Region Area 1 in Canada and seek damages in the sum of N1 billion for his client.
This was contained in a letter dated February 1, 2024 and addressed to the Most Rev. Henry C. Ndukuba, Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, St. Matthias House, Plot 942, Ibrahim Waziri Crescent, CAD Zone B01, Gudu District, Garki Abuja.
It was titled: “ Re: Letter Of Suspension As Bishop Of The Church Of Nigeria And Connam Missionary Bishop Of Canada Missionary Region Area 1”
The letter stated: “We are Solicitors to Rt. Rev. Olukayode Adebogun, the Area Bishop for Canada Missionary Region Area 1 in Canada (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) on whose behalf and instructions we write this letter.
Your letter entitled “Letter Of Suspension As Bishop Of The Church Of Nigeria And Connam Missionary Bishop Of Canada Missionary” and dated January 30, 2024 has been forwarded on us for necessary action.
“In the said letter, Your Grace referred to the series of utterances attributed to our client “that seek to undermine the authority of the Primate of the Church of Nigeria and the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria with regard to the Church of Nigeria Mission in North America and Canada generally.
“Your Grace also referred to the series of utterances and actions attributed to our client “in disobedience of and designed to undermine the express lawful directives and authority of the Primate of the Church of Nigeria and the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria with regard to decisions lawfully taken by the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
“However, Your Grace concluded that “These utterances and actions if found to be true constitute acts of canonical disobedience in breach of the provisions of Section 22 of Chapter III of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
“The clear meaning of the conclusion of Your Grace is that it has not been established that the alleged utterances and actions emanated from our client pursuant to article XV1 of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
“Curiously, Your Grace turned round to suspend our client as a Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) without any scintilla of evidence whatsoever.
“Apart from the egregious infringement of the fundamental right of our client to fair hearing, Your Grace lacks the power to unilaterally suspend him under the unambiguous provisions of Article XVI of the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
“The letter of the purported suspension of our client as a Bishop which was circulated in online news and other social media by Your Grace has caused irreparable damage to him, his wife and other family members.
“Take notice that if Your Grace fails to accede to our request, we shall not hesitate to sue you and the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) with a view to protecting the reputation of our client. Specifically, we shall pray the appropriate court to order the reinstatement of our client as a Bishop of the Church of Nigeria and award damages of N1,000,000,000.00 to him for the libelous letter”, the letter stated.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
