Hon. Justice O.A. Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court has dismissed a legal action filed by Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Oyewole Oyekan and four others against the Nigerian Baptist Convention and its President, Rev. Dr. Israel Adelani Akanji.
The case, filed under Suit No. I/710/2024 at the Ibadan Judicial Division of the High Court, was brought by Rev. Dr. E.O. Oyekan, Rev. Dr. C.D. Oluwabukola, Deacon I.O. Akanmu, Mrs. B.D. Oyewole, and Sister Olajoke Akinyemi. The plaintiffs, representing themselves and a faction of Ajegunle Baptist Church (also known as New Glory Chapel, Agbowo, Ibadan), challenged their derobing and the disfellowshipping of their congregation by the Convention.
The plaintiffs specifically contested a letter dated June 10, 2024, issued by Rev. Dr. Akanji, which formalized their removal from ministerial roles and revoked the affiliation of Ajegunle Baptist Church with the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
However, during the pendency of the case, several members of Ajegunle Baptist Church and six pastors from its daughter churches publicly dissociated themselves from the plaintiffs and the New Glory Baptist Church faction. In response, the Convention reinstated those members and rescinded any adverse decisions affecting them.
The Nigerian Baptist Convention, represented by the law firm of Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN & Co., filed a statement of defence along with a preliminary objection. The objection challenged the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that the claimants lacked locus standi—the legal standing to sue—since they were not recognized members of the Convention. This was substantiated by the fact that New Glory Baptist Church had registered as a separate legal entity with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Arguments on the preliminary objection were heard on March 18, 2025. On June 19, 2025, Justice Adetujoye delivered the ruling, dismissing the suit on the grounds that the plaintiffs were not legally entitled to initiate the action.
With this ruling, all legal controversies surrounding the status of Ajegunle Baptist Church have been resolved in favour of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, reinforcing its authority and organizational integrity.
