The leadership crisis rocking the Assemblies of God Church in Nigeria has been laid to rest, following the dismissal and ex-communication of the former General Superintendent of the Church, Rev. Dr. Paul Emeka for alleged breach of constitution and peace of the church.

The Church also sacked and ex-communicated Raphael Itotoh, Nicholas Anyanwu, Philips Efejunti, Roland Best, Kayode Shinkale, Bulus Goni, Baba Fada and others.

They were sacked from the church during the 35th quadrennial General Meeting of the Church held yesterday at Evangel Camp along Enugu- Abakaliki Expressway, Okpoto, Ebonyi State, where the council urged Rev. Paul Emeka and others to hand over the property of Assemblies of God to the elected leaders.

The Church elected new leaders to pilot affairs of the church. They include Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, the former Assistant General Superintendent as the new General Superintendent, Rev. Pastor Ejikeme Ejim Assistant General Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Godwin Amawoh (General Secretary), Rev. Dr. Vincent Alaje as General Treasurer and Rev. Scott Ennis as Chairman of NMFF and 14 other leaders.

In a motion moved by Rev. Peter Okwor from Ijebu District and seconded by Rev. Cyril Anikwe from Nnewi District, the General Council in session unanimously confirmed and ratified the decision of the General Committee on March 6 to dismiss Paul Emeka as a Pastor and suspended him as a member for taking the Church to court and breaching the constitution and bye law of Assemblies of God Nigeria.

The General Council in session also unanimously condemned all the actions of Paul Emeka, namely, harassing church leaders with police and thugs, malicious and damaging publications in newspapers as well as lifting the suspension of those that breached the Assemblies of God Nigeria church.

The Council further accused the dismissed superintendent of the church of suspending undeservedly people that were not in his support, dissolving some presbyters illegally, arbitrarily and unconstitutionally, creating illegal administrative units, taking over Evangel Television and registering it in his personal name. Rev. Emeka and the other sacked members were also accused of purportedly dissolving the Board of Trustees of Assemblies Of God Nigeria, and constituting an illegal Board of Trustees, conducting an illegal council meeting and setting aside the duly elected Executive Committee, continuing occupation of the General Council secretariat and General Superintendent residence, and tampering with function and administration of Evangel University contrary to NUC policies.

The General Council in session also unanimously commended the Executive Committee for faithfully implementing the decision of the General Committee and for standing firmly and resolving to protect the sanctity of Assemblies of God at the risk of their lives.º

-Sun