By Sola Ojewusi
Prophet Israel Oladele Ogundipe, Shepherd in Charge, Celestial Church of Christ Genesis Global who in recent times has been facing series of allegations by some individuals, has again reiterated his determination to ensure that justice is done and his name cleared against what he believes are malicious allegations against him.
His latest action came in response to the recent intervention of the National Headquarters of the Celestial Church under the leadership of Emmanuel Mobiyina Bilehou Oshoffa in which it asked all parties to sheath sword and allow the headquarters investigate the matter and adjudicate accordingly.
The action of the headquarters did not however go down well with the Prophet who believes that rather than abate the allegations, the church headquarters’ statement had only further encouraged the Prophet’s detractors to continue the “malicious” allegations against him.
In a letter addressed on his behalf to the CCC headquarters by the Prophet’s lawyers, Juryman Associate Chambers and signed by Aare Oladotun Hassan, Esq., its Principal Partner, the solicitors said inter alia: “…we wish to clarify that our client’s actions through our law firm were not targeted against the body of Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, but to seek legal redress and justice at a court of competent jurisdiction in respect of the recent publications and virile serial videos released on social media specifically targeted at ridiculing our client by some identified group of persons and other named media houses/agents/3rd party proxies, in which we have consistently frowned at such illicit conducts with grave dismay and chagrin displeasure.”
The statement also expressed reservations about what the Prophet believes was a negation of his interest in peace and justice. It states further: “Furthermore, in view of our client’s unreserved respect for the Celestial Church of Christ, worldwide, our client still believe in the preserved authority of the church, however, the published press release was in total negation of our client’s interest for peace and justice, with particular reference to your publication dated 8th July, 2020 was rather more an endorsement of the culprit’s culpability, rather than chastised and caution, it verifiably seems you gave the culprits license and more vigor, valor and power to wreck further mayhem on our client, family, associates and ministry on social media.”
The solicitors hinged the Prophet’s action on the incessant harassment of the Prophet despite the headquarters action and expressed the determination of the Prophet to seek redress in the courts. According to the Prophet’s solicitors, “Perhaps, most unfortunately the culprits persistently went ahead after the lapse of our final warning/pre-action notice of 6th July, 2020, in respect letter dated 3rd July, 2020(acknowledged by all the culprits collectively via emails and their social media platforms).
Consequently, afterwards we were inundated with abundance of evidences against the culprits via continuous cyber bullying and defamatory materials and uncouth contents published and released daily, in flagrant violation of our position and specific demands as stated in our letter dated 3rd July, 2020, precipitating our next line of actions for a full legal sanctions against the culprits accordingly, hitherto not limited thereto; civil and criminal actions simultaneously at the courts of competent jurisdiction respectively.”
The solicitors further insisted on ensuring that justice is done on behalf of Ogundipe whom they described as “a renowned and highly respected man of God, a philanthropist with a golden heart worthy of emulation and mentorship qualities for the entire celestial family and humanity globally.”
The headquarters was assured that Ogundipe’s “untainted integrity is beyond measure and fault” and that he is “a civil and law abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Ogundipe’s solicitors concluded the letter with a promise to “pursue the justice to a logical conclusion against ALL the culprits, until it is optimally achieved.”
Below are copies of the statement of the church headquarters and the letter released today, Thursday, by the solicitors with reference number: JAC/212/2020 and dated 15th July, 2020.
