It was learnt that every Sunday, there was always drama at the location as both churches simultaneously conducted their Sunday service on the same ground.
It was gathered that despite repeated attempts by residents of the area and other sympathisers to restore harmony between the two houses of God, peace had remained elusive on the landed property.
Leader of the Praise Ever Ministry, Evangelist Evelyn Calistus, told our correspondent that she got the land on a lease since 2007 from the owner, one Mr. Yusuf Tijani.
She said, “We came here in February 2007. We rented the place from Mr. Yusuf Tijani. It was a thick bush then.
“In 2011, we paid another rent due to elapse at the end of 2014. But in December 2012, Tijani came here and told us that he wanted to sell the land, adding that he needed N6.5m for it in two weeks. We told him we could not raise the money and that we needed a little time.
“My family had accommodation problem, and so we moved into the church’s office in January 2013.”
The evangelist explained that trouble started in April, 2013 after Tijani apparently sold the land to the RCCG.
She said the church’s leadership insisted that she moved out of the property despite the fact that her rent was still running. She added that the church did not offer her any compensation.
She said, “On April 28, 2013, we saw a crowd singing under a mango tree near the church’s premises, saying God had given them the land.
“On the following Sunday, the RCCG pastor and Tijani came to the church and announced that the parish had bought the place.”
She alleged that since then, the RCCG parish had made life difficult for her church members, seeking to take possession of the land and ignoring her pleas that her rent had not run out.
She said attempts for a truce through the national leadership of the RCCG had been frustrated by the parish, whose members and pastor insisted on taking over the land immediately.
“In August, 2013, they brought a signboard and put it at the back of my office. Every Sunday they would come to conduct their Sunday service and insisted that we leave.
“Later, they used their canopy to block our church entrance. Anytime their pastor sees our members coming into the church, he would leave the pulpit and challenged them.”
A petition written by the Festus Keyamo Chambers for the praise ministry, to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, alleged that “Evelyn (Calistus)had also been threatened that it is either she leaves the place alive or that they will carry her dead body away.”
The evangelist, however, said she was making moves to see Adeboye, saying such would settle the problem once and for all.
But the RCCG Chief Legal Officer, Pastor Ayodele Oladeji, who spoke for the church, told our correspondent that the issue was being resolved.
He said, “I am aware of the case. What really happened was that the RCCG parish bought the land from the owner. I also learnt that it had been offered to Pastor Evelyn’s church earlier, but they could not raise the money.
“We did not agree with the parish’s plan of ejecting them immediately; we believe they should follow all legal formality before taking over the place. We agreed that both the parish and the RCCG province in the area should see to their relocation.
On the threat to Calistu’s life, he said, “I don’t think they can threaten to kill her. I believe she is afraid. I have met with those people and seen them personally. RCCG does not stand for that.”
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The woman should leave the place as its been sold.Atleast she is not paying for the leased land anymore.
ReplyDeleteHaving a church or gooing to the church doesn't make you a xtian.
I am always sad when so called Pastors involve themselves in dirty things,incidence of Anarchy and sort.
Why die or waste your energy on this that pass away. I think churches should be more concerned for things of heaven and eternity. I will not be surprised if some members of these churches are makes millions of naira from this crises.Churches are now big businesses. It is only the gullible that can be decieved
ReplyDelete"It was gathered that despite repeated attempts by residents of the area and other sympathizers to restore harmony between the two houses of God, peace had remained elusive on the landed property" Bible believing churches indeed.
ReplyDeleteI av notin to say cos nigerianeye can twist stories too,bt nevertheless it shld nt b said dat d pple of dis world shld b judging d church meaning we r d light of d world as shld b dat way...it happened in Bible days so its nt new,we r not ignorant od satan's style.
ReplyDeletethey should hold the seller
ReplyDeleteAs an Estate Surveyor & Valuer, I would say the seller is at fault. He would have refunded the tenant for the remaining term of the lease after he had sold the land. But he did not. It pitiful that the Nigeria Justice system is an Ass.
ReplyDeleteThe seller is the one at fault here, they should know that! Why blame the churches? We are all human so anyone could be involved in this kind of situation, the seller is the greedy soul that needs to be punished also as humans we need to always exercise patience, the woman said her rent is still on I think RCCG should respect that.
ReplyDeleteApparently, we are not looking in the direction of the truth. Every party involved are gullible. It is shameful and disappointing that Churches engage in this canal battle. It's very glaring this churches are not seeking after the interest of God as they claim otherwise why should a church attempt purchasing a property leased to another church simply because you have the money to do so. Again, why should a church drive another church from a place of worship if both are seeking after the same God. This is a BIG shame.
ReplyDelete