The Christian
Association of Nigeria has said the organisation will not investigate
allegations of sexual misconduct being made by Ms. Stephanie Otobo against
Apostle
Johnson Suleman, founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide.
A top official
at the CAN’s national office told Saturday PUNCH on Friday that the
organisation is only concerned with denominational issues and not personal
ones, under which Suleman’s case falls.
Otobo had
accused Suleman of illegal procurement of abortion, threat to life, and
attempted murder, following which a Christian group, Concerned Christians,
called on CAN to investigate the allegations.
In a statement
signed by the Concerned Christians’ Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Dav, the group said
there was a need for CAN to investigate the “alleged adultery case with a view
to knowing the truth and communicating with the body of Christ.”
However, the
CAN source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “CAN provides an
umbrella for Christian denominations and it is a bridge between the church and
the nation, not between individuals. This issue has to do with individuals,
ethics and morals. So it is the denomination that Suleman directly subscribes
to that should look into it and not CAN.
“The CAN
cannot be involved. What is happening is not an official issue. It is a
personal issue. The man has denied the allegations made by the lady, but she
insists and we are told that their lawyers and the appropriate authorities are
already involved. If it was a matter that had to do with the church now, we
would have waded into it. You will be aware that when the man was being
harassed because of what he preached and said, CAN stepped in. We declared our
position on that but this other matter is a little bit complex.
“If CAN comes
out to say the man is being persecuted because he is a Christian, people might
say that we are defending what is not defendable, and that the matter is
immoral. Also, we don’t have an investigative department that deals with that
in CAN. But if he is with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, then the body
can investigate the matter. CAN is an umbrella body for denominational blocs
and not for individual Christians per se.”
However,
efforts to reach the National President, PFN, Dr. Felix Omobude, on the phone
were unsuccessful as he neither answered calls made to his mobile telephone nor
responded to text message sent to him.
The Chairman,
PFN, Edo State, where Suleman is based, Bishop Mon Igbinosa, told our
correspondent on the telephone that he was bereaved and could not comment on
the issue or direct our correspondent to any other official who could.
0 Comments