First Baptist Church: Court Ordered Reconciliation Collapses

The reconciliation ordered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, between warring factions of First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja, may have broken down irretrievably, following the filing of a motion in court by the church secretary, Mr Babatunde Adebayo.

Justice Egwuatu had acceded to the request of the management of the church for amicable settlement, following a suit filed by a committee of Concerned Elders, led by Mr Bayo Ajagbe and

Rear Admiral Gbadejo Adedeji.

Ajagbe and Adedeji had insisted that the constitution of the church should be strictly adhered to in the quest to employ another pastor following the election of Rev. Israel Akanji as president of Nigerian Baptist Convention.

President of Abuja Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Raphael Dogara Gwana was appointed chair of reconciliation committee with a senior advocate of Nigeria, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo as co-chair.

While reconciliation talks were on, the church leadership went ahead to depose to further affidavit to claim that the controversial church constitution deposited at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) by Israel Akanji in 2012 was the authentic document.

As a result, both Gwana and Awomolo have since withdrawn from further mediation, saying that the church management did not appear desirous of amicable resolution of the dispute.

The plaintiffs, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/432/2022, had sued the Incorporated Trustees of First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja and current “acting pastor”, Rev. Tom Takpatore, as first and second respondents, seeking among others, an order restraining the respondents from continuing with the process of selection and appointment of a substantive presiding pastor for the church, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.