The crises rocking the
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over alleged stealing of money by its
President, Rev. Dr. Sampson Olasupo Ayokunle, thickened on Sunday with its Vice
President, Prof. Joseph Otubu, challenging him to give account of the funds to
save the church from ridicule.
Specifically, Otubu,
University of Ibadan-trained Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with
emphasis in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, demanded that the CAN
President should account for the N4 million given by Governor Samuel Ortom of
Benue State during a courtesy call on him.
Others include the N25
million received from President Muhammadu Buhari on behalf of CAN, out of which
the acting General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Bade Daramola, admitted that he
received N500,000, and the various sums of money running into millions of naira
which Ayokunle received from governors Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and
Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on behalf of CAN.
When contacted, an aide
to Ayokunle who did not want his name mentioned because of its sensitive
nature, said: “The matter is being handled by higher authorities in CAN. It is
an internal issue and will be settled amicably.”
Otubu in a letter to
Ayokunle dated December 12, 2018, entitled, “Corruption in CAN – A Final
Advice”, threatened to “allow the law to take its full course” if the CAN
President refuses to take immediate and necessary steps to account for and
refund to CAN all the funds, including the Cotonou car purchased without
receipt.
Part of the letter reads:
“Permit me also to remind you that I was present when the Benue State Governor
gave money reported to be N4,000,000.00 (four million naira only) to CAN during
our courtesy call on him. You handed the money over to a non-official of
CAN and later declared that it was N1,000,000.00 (one million naira only) out
of which you apportioned N200,000.00 (two hundred thousand naira only) as my
own share which I promptly and flatly rejected, insisting that the money
belongs to CAN and should be paid into CAN account. The money is yet to be paid
into CAN account.
“May I remind you further
that the N25,000,000.00 (twenty-five million naira only) which you received
from His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari on behalf of CAN, out of which
Mr. Daramola admitted that he received N500,000.00 (five hundred thousand naira
only) and others including your good self, received various sums of money is
yet to be accounted for by you. It does appear, Mr. President that you have
forgotten that Article 5(i) & (iv) of the CAN Constitution provide that the
CAN Treasurer shall be the KEEPER of the Association’s funds and that he shall
receive and pay into the bank within 48 hours of working days all monies
received by the Association.
“Permit me, therefore, to
warn that if you do not take immediate and necessary steps to account for and
refund to CAN all the funds which you and your collaborators have converted,
the subject of my complaint, and at the same time address the issues raised
therein, we shall be compelled to allow the law to take its full course. LET US
endeavour to save the Church for the present and the future.”
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