We issue this statement to formally and unequivocally reject and condemn the purported suspension of members of some churches and the alleged dissolution of church committees by the Primate and his proxies.
These actions are unconstitutional, procedurally flawed, and of no effect whatsoever. At no time were the affected members afforded due process, fair hearing, or the involvement of the appropriate ecclesiastical and constitutional bodies as required by the governing instruments of the Church. The Primate, whether acting personally or through proxies, does not possess absolute or unilateral powers to suspend members or dissolve duly constituted church committees outside the clear provisions of the Church’s Constitution and established canons.
We therefore state categorically that:
All members purportedly suspended remain full and bona fide members in good standing.
All committees allegedly dissolved remain validly constituted and operational.
Any actions, directives, or appointments arising from these purported suspensions or dissolutions are null, void, and unenforceable.
The Church is not governed by arbitrariness or personal discretion, but by law, order, accountability, and collective leadership. Any attempt to rule by proxy, intimidation, or administrative fiat undermines the unity of the Church and contradicts its spiritual and constitutional foundations.
We call on all clergy and laity to remain calm, prayerful, and resolute, and to disregard any directives that do not comply with due process and constitutional authority. We further affirm our commitment to lawful, peaceful, and transparent resolution of all disputes within the framework of the Truth, Equity and Justice.
All necessary steps where appropriate, will be taken to safeguard the integrity of the Church, its institutions, and its members.
However, for the notice of the body of Christ and the general public these are some of the allegations against Bishop Blessing Erifeta which a panel constituted by the Church of Nigeria under the then Primate Nicholas Okoh investigated but was hidden by the current leadership because of the damaging facts and figures in their findings.
Allegations:- Reckless spending of Diocesan funds to the tone of about ₦900m
- Running the Diocese-owned school as his personal business by coercing the school to make donations to Diocesan programme from resources which should have been strictly committed to the development of the school. He also collects ₦600k annually from the school as his honorarium.
- Running the pure water factory owned by the Diocese as his own personal business.
- The Bishop wife’s refusal to render the women accounts and personalizing women activities
- Withdrawal of N4m and other sums from the women’s account for Bishop Erifeta’s personal business
- Involving the Diocese in frivolous loans for purchase of choice cars, among which is a Mecerdez 4matic Jeep believed to be worth no less than N11million as at 2014 and other personal business without Diocesan board approval.
- Absence of due process, accountability and probity in administering the finances of the Diocese
- Refusal to pay into the Diocesan account the proceeds from the sale of the first Diocesan car purchased by Ven O.N. Emebeyo
- Incessant transfer of Diocesan funds to his children’s bank accounts by the accounting officer
- Coercing the women of the Diocese to budget funds for the Bishop’s wife foreign trips. No Diocesan board approval
- All monies raised during diocesan train a priest (T.A.P) fundraising are diverted to his personal pocket
- Refusal to pay back the proceeds from the sale of the Diocese owned Toyota 4runner Jeep
- Refusal to pay into Diocesan account proceeds from the rental of Diocesan coaster bus donated by the Delta State government.
- Refusal to pay the deductions of P.A.Y.E (Tax) of worker of the Diocese to the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue
- Fraudulent spending of Cathedral funds for the re- roofing of the Cathedral (N20 million) the Bishop was the sole contractor
- Coercing the priests to move payment of their salaries from First Bank to Fidelity Bank to facilitate his selfish loan transactions
- Causing the membership strength of this Diocese to drop to less than 20% of what it was prior to 2009
- Incessant ordination to satisfy selfish ends
- Telling very terrible lies thereby bringing the Diocese to grave disrepute
- Insulting and pronouncing curses at church members most especially the elders
- Being a wolf to the flock of Christ
- Refusing to feed the sheep and devouring them day by day
- Refusing to seek the lost
- Tyranical leadership style
- Displaying high level arrogance, autocracy, boastfulness and intimidation in all Diocesan board meetings and Clergy meetings
- Causing very serious cracks/division in the house of clergy Promoting evil prophecies and negative revelations in the Diocese
- Turning his staff upside down at the lower chancel during a confirmation service and placing curses on members of the Cathedral.
- Incessant withdrawal of funds from the Holy Trinity Grammar School for his personal business
- Acquiring many landed properties at the expense of Sapele Diocese such as JMJ plaza Port Harcourt
- The Rt. Revd B.A. Erifeta JP, his wife and children are deeply involved in exceptional immoral activities. Till date a mother and a child are in hiding so that the paternity of the child can not be determined through DNA test as the woman is alleged to be the Bishops mistress.
- Promoting tribalism especially in one of his pastoral letters to the churches in which he spoke in a most unedifying manner about members who are non-indigene and in another pastoral letter he placed embargo on any church development
- Taking the church to court without Diocesan board knowledge/approval
- Laying false allegation of kidnapping, murder and assassination against members and a clergy of the diocese
- Placing curses on the youths of the Diocese during the youth synod of 2015
CONCERNED MEMBERS OF RESCUE SAPELE DIOCESE GROUP.