The Christian Association of Nigeria( CAN) said it has dragged the federal government before a Federal High Court challenging the just-gazetted, controversial Companies and Allied Matters Act(CAMA), 2020.
CAN made this known in a statement on Monday by its general secretary, Joseph Daramola.
TheFact Nigeria recalls that the President, Muhammadu Buhari had, on August 7 2020, signed the CAMA (amendment bill) into law.
The Act, among others, stipulates that religious bodies and charity organisations would be strictly regulated by the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and a supervising minister.
It also provides that the commission may, by order, suspend the trustees of an association or a religious body and appoint an interim manager or managers to co-ordinate its affairs, where it reasonably believes that there has been any misconduct or mismanagement, or where the affairs of the association are being run fraudulently or where it is necessary or desirable for the purpose of public interest.
However, in the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/244/2021, the Christian body said they were not comfortable with some provision contained CAMA 2020.
They are, therefore, praying the court to, inter alia, declare the amended act null and void, saying it violated the freedom of worship and religion, as guaranteed in the constitution.
Leading an array of learned sills and other senior lawyers, is Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN).
According to the statement: “The suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/244/2021 between the Incorporated Trustees of Christian Association of Nigeria and 1. Corporate Affairs Commission and 2. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The case was mentioned at the Federal High Court, Abuja today (Monday).
“The Plaintiff Counsels, led by Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, include but not limited to Prof J. Amupitan, SAN, Wale Adesokan, SAN, Isaac Okpanachi, Esq., Comfort Otera Chigbue, Esq, Godswill Iyoke, Esq., Dr Cyril Obika, Esq., Geraldine Mbah, Esq., Francis Oronsaye, Esq., Oluniyi Adediji, Esq., Charles Ndukwe, Esq., Emmanuel Ekong, Esq., and Darlington Onyekwere, Esq., Madu Joe-Kyari Gadzama, Esq.
Others are: Lama Joe-Kyari Gadzama, Esq, Rev Fr. Joseph Ilorah, Esq., Jerry Onbugadu Musa, Esq., Amazing Ikpala, Esq., and a host of other legal luminaries.
The CAN leaders present in court, according to the statement, included the General Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, Esq., Elder Kunle Fagbemi, Senator Philip Gyunka, Elder Tunde Adegbesan, Rev Dr Testimony Onifade, the Director, Legal and Public Affairs, Comfort Otera Chigbue, Esq., and Senator Jonathan Zwingina.
Meanwhile, the Association has said it resolved to go to court after all attempts to convince the Federal government on why it should not intervene or interfere with the management of the Church in the country, through any of its agencies, failed.
