Crisis is brewing in the Church of Nigeria (AnglicanCommunion), over recent election of the Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye, as the
new Bishop of Lagos alleging bribery and misappropriation of fund, with
petition already sent to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) ,
reports ITRealms.
Also, ITRealms gathered,
there had been allegations of corruption and inducement of members with money
during the election held in Ilorin, recently.
ITRealms equally
gathered that during the recent Episcopal Synod of the Church in Ilorin, Kwara
State, the leadership of the church in a statement by its General Secretary,
Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Ayodeji Fagbemi, announced that a number of new Bishops and
ArchBishops had been elected.
The Rt Rev. Olumakaiye, according to the statement, would be
transiting from the Diocese of Osun North East to Lagos.
Nevertheless, the mood among members of the congregation in
Lagos suggested a strong disaffection and clear opposition to the election of
Olumakaiye, seen to have been imposed by the outgoing Diocesan Bishop of Lagos,
The Most Rev. (Dr.) Adebola Ademowo.
ITRealms further gathered that for instance, that a
statement issued in Lagos at the weekend signed by one Mr. Ade Doherty on
behalf of members of the church and who claimed to be aggrieved over the said
election of Olumakaiye, indicated that Olumakaiye’s election was stage-managed,
not influenced by the Holy Spirit and as such, “unacceptable.”
The statement reads: “The so-called election of Olumakaiye
at the recent conference of Bishops in Ilorin was a clear manipulation of the
House of Bishops who were "teleguided" by both Ademowo and The
Primate, the Most Revd. (Dr.) Nicholas Okoh.
“Of course, we have it on good authority that huge sums of
money exchanged hands to facilitate the so-called election of Olumakaiye and
majority of our members in Lagos stand united in opposition to this mischief.
It is a charade and can never stand.”
They also claimed that such action by the House of Bishops
was a way of trying to elongate the tenure of Ademowo.
It was also alleged that he (Ademowo), in order to perfect
the election manipulation, facilitated a multi-million Naira house for Primate
Okoh in the Lekki area of Lagos.
They made references to Ademowo's earlier statements and
actions, which they claimed, put paid to Olumakaiye's emergence.
The aggrieved further stated that their solicitors had
prepared a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to
probe the alleged acquisition of the said Lekki property, the financial
inducements in the House of Bishops, and the alleged porous accounts of the
Lagos Diocese and women organisations in the Lagos Diocese, which they alleged
was the reason “the succession at all costs is taking place.”
Ayo Midele/GEE
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