Barrister Okoro says No legal impediment can stop the swearing-in of new CAN President

A Counsel to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Barrister Edwin O. Okoro, yesterday said there is no legal impediment that will restrain the swearing-in of the newly elected President of CAN, who is also the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev. Supo Ayokunle.

Okoro made the disclosure in Jos while speaking with journalists.

He said, “As I speak to you now, there is no any valid legal process in court to stop the swearing-in of the President elect of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

According to him, the Plaintiff’s application to stop the CAN elections was refused in the Federal High Court, Abuja on the 9th of June, 2016.

“This is because they commenced the suit on 1st June, 2016 and filed an application the same day to restraint CAN from conducting the election on that same application which was refused by the court.

Our correspondent reliably gathered that the swearing-in of the new CAN officials is bill for between 19th and 20th July, 2016 during which the Executive meeting of the Association will hold.

It would be recalled that the new CAN President, Rev. Supo Ayokunle was elected on the 14th June, 2016, in Abuja; where Ayokunle got 54 votes to defeat Elder Joseph Otubu of the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (MCCSW) who got 28 votes.

However, after his emergence, the Candidate of the TEKAN/ECWA Bloc, Rev. Jeremiah Gado, who is also the President of ECWA, and was supposed to be part of the election had instituted a legal action, challenging the election of Ayokunle as the President elect of CAN.

Responding, Counsel to Plaintiff (Rev. Jeremiah Gado), G. M. Kuttu said whatever decision that CAN under the leadership of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor takes will amount to contempt of court since the matter is before the court.

“Even without the order restraining them, the fact is that once the matter is in court and the party is aware, CAN is supposed to stay away from doing anything that will prejudice the the case.

According to him, “ignorance of the law is not an excuse”.

Meanwhile investigation by our correspondent revealed that there are strong indications that Pastor Oritsejafor in collaboration with some past CAN Leaders have been holding meetings in Abuja to ensure that the matter is settled out of court.