The National Executive Committee of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has dissolved the Nigerian Christian Elders Forum after a panel set up by the committee concluded an investigation into allegations of misconduct against the association.
Recall that the Elders’ Forum, in a memo titled ‘NCEF Protests: Is NEC of CAN Guilty of Negligence?’ in May, had alleged that when Ayokunle led a delegation to meet President Muhammadu Buhari on November 10, 2017, the leadership of CAN received N40m as “transportation money.”
However, the CAN executive committee, in an advertorial published in The Punch on Friday, said it had investigated the claims and upheld the leadership of the Christian body.
The statement said, “CAN is fully aware of the numerous provocative publications through various media services which have been gaining rounds in recent weeks, making it appear as if the association has lost its direction and focus.
“Most of these publications have been released by either of two broad categories of people.
“One group is that of innocent but ignorant people who do not know the truth of happenings in CAN.
“This group believes the news without finding out and makes publications which are completely false and unfounded.”
According to the statement, the allegation was raised by those who are “intentionally mischievous” because they don’t have their way in gaining control of the association.
It added, “They have sought to make CAN “business as usual,’ but they have found stiff resistance in the current CAN leadership.
“They got hold of the CAN Vice President to levy accusations against his principal in order to bring him to disrepute before the world and the association.
“CAN leadership became very concerned and set up a committee to investigate all allegations against the CAN president.
“And while the CAN president made himself available to the panel with documentary evidences, his accuser, the CAN vice president, refused to appear before the committee in spite of all attempts made to ensure his appearance.”
