The year 2000 was a landmark in the history of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), but 2015 proved to be an equally stormy and pivotal chapter. A decade later, the repercussions of that year’s controversies still echo across the Church’s leadership and structure.
On March 26, 2015, Justice A.O. Asenuga of the Ilaro High Court delivered a judgement that shook the very foundation of CCC’s pastoral hierarchy. The court declared the pastoral claims of both the plaintiff (G.B.) and the defendants (M.O. & T.) as illegal—a ruling many believe became the catalyst for what would follow.
Barely three months later, on June 10, 2015, the Church witnessed a dramatic event now widely referred to as the “Self-Declaration.” Orchestrated by the closest aide to the apex leader, the incident was described by some as a coup, while others labelled it a calculated takeover masked as administrative necessity.
The truth remains shrouded in conflicting narratives. Some parish leaders claimed the apex was manipulated into signing away his authority without full awareness. Another story, more dramatic in nature, suggested that the aide was in fact the biological son of the apex—a twist likened to the biblical tale of Absalom.
Regardless of the version, the result was the same: senior clergy members were demoted, the Church’s hierarchy destabilized, and the founding legacies of S.B.J. Oshoffa were deeply embarrassed. To date, the principal figure behind the self-declaration has not publicly offered an explanation.
The lack of transparency has fueled speculation and resentment. While some argue the actions may have been in the interest of the Church, his household, or even self-preservation, others feel a fair hearing should have been granted long ago. In its absence, many have chosen sides based on interpretation, loyalty, or personal loss.
Ironically, several of the individuals allegedly involved in planning and executing the declaration now occupy influential positions within the Church, while their critics remain marginalized—struggling for recognition and access to the privileges they once held.
In 2015, a respected pioneer member of the Board of Trustees (BOT), alongside other BOT members, rallied across media platforms defending the apex’s original mandate and condemning the takeover. Today, their voices have faded, and they no longer have a visible place in the structure they once defended—spiritually, politically, and financially.
Yet, both factions now appear as casualties of the very system they helped shape. Neither has proven fully committed to the enduring vision of the Church’s founder until personal injury brought reflection. As a result, many believe both sides owe the Celestial community a sincere apology.
Following the 2015 judgment, Church authorities had promised a new constitution to resolve future leadership disputes. Ten years later, that constitution remains elusive—reportedly gathering dust—while legal battles continue to plague the institution.
June 10, 2015, remains a day of reckoning in the history of the Celestial Church of Christ. Ten years after, the silence, inaction, and unfinished reforms tell a story that still needs closure.
By Our Correspondent | Culled from Evang. Segun Glorious
