The Federal High Court in Ikoyi has struck out a reconciliation proposal in the ongoing legal battle between the Celestial church’s registered Board of Trustees (BOT) and its Pastor, scheduling the final ruling for May 7, 2025.
At the February 12, 2025 hearing, tensions were high as the courtroom awaited proceedings. The Pastor’s lead counsel was absent, but the presiding judge, Justice Musa Kakaki, wasted no time in pushing forward. Legal representatives presented passionate arguments, with the BOT’s counsel stressing the urgency of a decisive ruling.
Justice Kakaki, who took over the case following the transfer of Justice Peter O. Lifu to Abuja, dismissed a last-minute reconciliation plea from the Pastor’s legal team, citing past failed attempts. He noted that the case had been meticulously documented by his predecessor, enabling him to proceed with confidence.
“All available evidence has been reviewed, and reconciliation efforts have repeatedly failed,” Justice Kakaki stated before formally setting the May 7 ruling date.
Meanwhile, frustration grows within the church community. Members accuse the Pastor-In-Charge (PIC) Secretaries of failing to properly inform the congregation about previous reconciliation attempts, including those led by Justice Ajakaiye (Rtd.). The BOT Chairman, MSE Banjo, had engaged with the committee in August 2020, with further discussions promised but never realized. A follow-up meeting on May 8, 2022, at CCC Ogudu Parish, Lagos, also yielded no publicized resolutions.
Despite claims of broad support for the Pastor, only three PIC members attended the court proceedings, and none of the unregistered BOT members were present. Observers suggest that financial interests are driving the prolonged legal battle, with some individuals allegedly influencing the Pastor to continue the fight to maintain their own material benefits.
As the legal showdown nears its conclusion, all eyes are on May 7, when the court will deliver its much-anticipated ruling.
