SAN FRANCISCO, May 20, (THEWILL) – The National Christian Elders Forum, (NCEF) is accusing the leadership of the Christian of Nigeria (CAN) of corruption and abuse of office accusing it of collecting N25 million or N40 million from the Presidency during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a memo, titled ‘NCEF Protests: Is NEC of CAN Guilty of Negligence?’, signed by its Chairman, Elder Solomon Asemota, SAN, the group called on the National Executive Council (NEC) to investigate the alleged high handedness of the CAN President.
It also alleged that the CAN leadership bought official vehicles at questionable prices saying NEC should immediately convene an emergency meeting to consider the issues raised and set up the process for the investigation of the CAN President, Rev. (Dr) Samson Olasupo Ayokunle.
Continuing, the memo urged the NEC to ensure that the investigation looks into the activities of other officials of CAN on whose heads allegations of wrong doing and misconduct hang and called for the immediate suspension of the President until all the allegations have been investigated and he is cleared of wrong doing.
The Christian Elders argued that it has the statutory right to “make its position public to all Nigerian Christians and alert them that, if Christianity is destroyed in Nigeria or Christians continue to get slaughtered, the present NEC of CAN should be held responsible.
It alleged that a vehicle that was purportedly purchased for the use of the CAN Vice President at a cost of N11 million in Cotonou was being sold in Nigeria at N5 million saying Dr. Ayokunle is yet to explain what happened to N6 million.
“In all, N43 million was spent to purchase four second hand vehicles in Cotonou. This allegation is too big to be swept under the carpet. (This vehicle is parked at the National Christian Centre, Abuja),” the Christian Elders said.
“On the 10th of November, 2017, a delegation of CAN, led by the President of CAN, Rev. Dr. Ayokunle, met with President Muhammadu Buhari and, after the visit, collected ‘transportation’ money.
“While informed sources claim it was N40 million, CAN officials insist it was N25 million and it was alleged to have been shared by somebody who is not an official of the National Secretariat of CAN.
“NCEF insists on proper investigation of how the money was shared and how much each person received. In addition, NCEF insists on proper sanction of every Christian leader that took part in sharing money from President Buhari.
“It is unethical and very insensitive for Christian leaders to collect money from the man every Christian is aware has compromised security to the detriment of the Church.”
Reacting to the allegations, Ayokunle, who was attending a conference in Philadephia, United States, dismissed the allegations, branding them as “a catalogue of lies” designed to smear his reputation.
“There is no truth in what they are alleging. No truth at all in all the allegations. If they are after sanity in CAN, is it on the pages of newspaper that they intend to settle any dispute? Do Muslims behave like that about their leaders?”, the CAN leader told Vanguard.
“You know if these people are allowed to smear my reputation on the pages of the media, they have successfully finished the Church in Nigeria. They have already written that I should be removed because they did a kangaroo investigation which did not involve me.”
