On the 26th of March 2015, the Federal High Court in Ilaro, Ogun State under the jurisdiction of Judge Asenuge .J. acted in accordance with section 255 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to make legal decisions on litigation arising from a filed challenging the Pastorship of Celestial Church of Christ. The Court pronounced the seat of the Pastor of Celestial Church of Christ vacant and declared the presence of Rev EMF Oshoffa & other Pastor’s illegal within the context of the law.
Subsequently, the registered Board of Trustees (BOT) expressed their discomfort with the decision of the lower court and unanimously agreed to challenge the judgment. The BOT sought redress from the appellate court in Ibadan. The purpose of the legal action was not only to overturn the decision of the lower court in FHC Ilaro, Ogun State, but to seek legal interpretation of the case as the Appellate Court which serves as an intermediate court between the High Court and other subordinate courts, as well as the Supreme Court, for matters ancillary thereto.
During this process, the Pastor (P.A) V/S/E Tosho Oshoffa with the support of some Elders in the Church who currently surround the Pastor, declared himself as the Pastor taking advantage of the Federal High Court’s announcement of the vacant seat.
In response, the registered BOT immediately stood with the Pastor and released a Press Statement condemning this act while also plead their allegiance to Pastor Rev EMF Oshoffa. The BOT went further by providing adequate security for the Pastor. Additionally, the family of the Pastor’s Founder, Rev Samuel Joseph Beliwu Oshoffa released a Press Statement condemning the actions of V/S/E Tosho Oshoffa after engaging in a comparative discussion with the registered BOT.
In order to ensure that the Pastor can continue his duties within the confines of the law, the registered Board of Trustees (BOT) held legal meetings with experienced lawyers, including late Judge M/C Ajibike who provided invaluable legal advice to the BOT. The advice was crucial for allowing Pastor Rev EMF Oshoffa to remain in office. As a result of these legal meetings, a new case was filed at the Federal High Court in Ilaro seeking a stay of execution regarding Judge Asenuge judgment on the 26th of March 2015.
After presenting the facts in the new suit, Judge Olugbemi of the Federal High Court in Ilaro ruled on the 17th of May 2016 stating that “if the alternative prayer for a stay of execution pending appeal was denied, it could lead to a state of complete helplessness or even render the decision of the court of appeal meaningless. Therefore, the prayer for a stay of execution was granted, and the execution of the judgment delivered by Judge Asenuge on March 26, 2015, was suspended until the appeal filed by the applicant was determined”.
The fresh judgment obtained on the 17th of May 2016 through the registered BOT allows Pastor Rev EMF Oshoffa to continue his duties in office till today. Currently, those who have sacrificed their lives for the Pastor are being portrayed as his enemies.
