COURT DISMISSES BISHOP ERIFETA’S SUIT AGAINST MEMBERS
By Our Correspondent
The Sapele High Court II, presided over by Justice (Mrs.) C.D Harriman has dismissed the suit brought before it by the Bishop of the Diocese, Sapele Anglican Communion. (Church of Nigeria) Rt. Rev. B.A. Erifeta (JP) for failing to show up in court after filing the suit against his members.
The Embattled Bishop Erifeta, had approached the Otor-Udu High Court with a Suit No.OUHC/161/2015 alleging that the “Rescue group” team and others in the church had defamed his character with their protest which started with the youths of the church of St. Luke Cathedral Boyo Road Sapele, with placards, handbills and the media where they called for his removal on the ground of corruption, embezzlement, disregard to elders, high headedness to members, maladministration, incessant travelling abroad with Diocesan fund while locking up the cathedral in the process.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Harriman of the Sapele High Court II where the case was heard after it was transferred from Otor-Udu, averred that Bishop Erifeta in the suit, failed to appear in court to pursue his case against the Defendants, thereby awarding a cost of N10,000 against him (Bishop Erifeta) while dismissing the case immediately as members of the Sapele Diocese Anglican Communion who throng the Court venue with customized dresses went home with wide jubilation.
In another development, the Arch Bishop of the Bendel Province Church of Nigeria His Grace Arch Bishop Friday Imakhai Anglican Communion has frowned at the attitude of some members of the diocese who during a peace and reconciliation meeting held in Warri Diocese throng the venue with placards bearing the inscriptions Bishop Erifeta must stay, Bishop Erifeta must not go, Rescue team leave our Bishop alone.
He advised the protesting group to note that since the process of reconciliation is on, such protest is no longer tolerated at any of their peace meetings, assuring that there would soon be an end to the crisis amongst the warning functions for the church of God to move on.
