The leadership of Synagogue Church of All Nations says no one is in detention or being victimised over the ongoing audit of the church.
SCOAN made the clarification in a statement on Sunday signed by its Head of Legal Department, Mr James Akhigbe, to disabuse public perception on a misguided information being peddled on the social media.
The News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos State reports that SCOAN is one of the most populated churches in Nigeria with presence in other countries.
The Church lost its Founding Pastor, Prophet Temitope Balogun-Joshua, popularly known as (TB Joshua) on June 17, 2021.
It reports that the founder’s departure created a leadership vacuum, as the pastor did not anoint anyone as his successor; this has continued to attract public speculation of leadership problem in the Church.
The document said that the attention of the leadership of the Church has been drawn to the news on the social media about the purported arrest and detention of some disciples of the Church by the newly appointed SCOAN Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairperson and Leader of the Church, Mrs Evelyn TB. Joshua.
According to it, SCOAN wants the public and friends of the church to disregard such reports as they are untrue.
“It is a narrative conjured by detractors to discredit the Church.
“We stand in the light and we cannot compromise the ideal and legacy of our mentor and founder, late Senior Prophet TB Joshua on integrity, spiritual worship, unconditional love and humanitarianism.
“The public will recall that on Sept. 9TH 2021, the Board Of Trustees of SCOAN appointed Mrs. Evelyn TB.Joshua widow of the late founder, its Chairperson.
“This followed an order of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/L/CP/1109/2021 which appointed Mrs Evelyn TB.Joshua as a Trustee.
“The BOT had also appointed Mrs TB Joshua as the new leader of the Church with ratification by not less than 2,000 congregation of the Church at a meeting on Thursday, Sept.9, 2021.”
According to it, consequently and in view of the discovery of cases of financial misappropriation perpetrated in the past few months, reckless individualism and unimaginable acts contrary to the administration of the Sanctuary with the passing of the founder, issues had to be addressed.
“The church leadership took steps to secure certain critical assets of the Church with an authorisation for a comprehensive audit of the activities of the SCOAN since the founder passed away.
“This inventory involved some category of church workers including Disciples and it is being carried out objectively under a regular and absolutely normal environment without any harassment of persons.
“Contrary to the falsehood now being peddled by mischief makers in the media, the audit is not to intimidate anyone as it is to strengthen the organisation,” it said.
