WHEN DISCIPLINE COUNTS IN HIGH OFFICES : Assemblies Of God's Church Nigeria Suspends General Oveerseer

The Assemblies of God Church Nigeria (AGN) has suspended her General Superintendent (GS), Rev. Paul Emeka, over allegation of misconduct, highhandedness, financial misappropriation and other sundry matters.

The church also decried that it had degenerated to its lowest ebb since his regime as he had single handedly ran the church as a private establishment.

The General committee of the church has henceforth appointed the Assistant General Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor, as the acting General Superintendent to pilot the affairs of the church in line with the church’s constitution and bye-law.

In a swift reaction, the suspended GS has described his ordeal as the handiwork of his enemies in the church as well as a political and ethnic gang-up against him, noting that such blackmail was aimed at tarnishing his image but believed that he would surmount his perceived detractors.
A letter dated March 6, 2014 titled “Re: Rev. Prof. Paul Emeka, former General Superintendent, Assemblies of God, Nigeria” and signed Rev. Dr. John Ikoni, Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor and Rev. Dr. Vincent Alaje; the General Secretary, Acting General Superintendent and General Treasurer respectively, stated, “Please be informed that at the meeting of the General Committee, Assemblies of God, Nigeria held on March 6 in the Conference Hall of the National Secretariat, Enugu, the General Committee suspended the Rev. Prof. Paul Emeka from membership of Assemblies of God, Nigeria.

“Rev. Prof. Paul Emeka who until this development served as General Superintended of Assemblies of God, Nigeria, therefore ceases to function in any of the duties assigned to the Office of the General Superintendent in the Constitution and Bye-Laws of the General Council of Assemblies of God, Nigeria, also with effect from today”, the letter added.

The church also accused the former General Superintendent of being autocratic in behaviour, financial mismanagement; abuse of power and above all taking the church to court, which is tantamount to tarnishing the image of the church and bringing it to public ridicule.

Among other matters leveled against the suspended General Superintendent include withdrawal of N200 million from the Pension Fund without due process, spending N250 million for the alleged acquisition of a property in Germany without the approval of the Executive Committee (EC), false claims to proprietorship of the Evangel University, false claim to the rank of Professor, and use of the same after his name with the attendant embarrassment to the church, among others.

The suspended General Superintendent, however, said that those allegations were targeted at discrediting him, adding that those who are championing the suspension issue are doing so because of their selfish and parochial interests.