By Ayomide Otitoju
Most Superior S.O. Banjo, a senior Registered Trustee of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), has publicly rejected a recent Federal High Court judgment, describing the January 27, 2026, ruling as “highly flawed” and “unworthy” of his calling. The statement signals a fresh escalation in the church’s ongoing leadership conflict.
The dispute originates from Pastor Emmanuel Friday Oshoffa’s controversial 2021 decision to dissolve the church’s Registered Board of Trustees, triggering years of legal battles over the denomination’s administration.
Court Ruling Draws Criticism
Banjo criticized the court for declining to interpret the church’s constitution, describing the decision as “a private matter” that has sown “much greater confusion.” He accused the current church administration of violating a 2017 Federal High Court restraining order that prohibited interference with the Board of Trustees.
Highlighting key grievances, Banjo argued that the court’s interpretation of “may” versus “shall” in church statutes undermines legal standards. He also alleged that Pastor Oshoffa dissolved the Board in contempt of an existing court directive and that past reconciliation efforts, including a 2021 meeting involving former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, were frustrated by the Pastor’s refusal to establish a democratic administrative structure.
Calls for Reform
In his statement, Banjo pledged to continue the legal struggle to ensure:
The establishment of a proper administrative structure for the church.
Financial transparency and the elimination of what he described as a “virus” of greed.
Compliance with a 2000 Supreme Court judgment requiring a rewrite of the church constitution to allow for orderly succession.
Citing 1 Timothy 6:10, he warned that the love of money is eroding the church’s spiritual foundation.
Pastor’s Reconciliation Offer Rejected
Banjo also revealed that Pastor Oshoffa had offered reconciliation terms that would completely exclude Trustees from church administration and funds. He dismissed the offer as “impossible” under the Corporate and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).
Looking Ahead
Despite the court dismissing the Trustees’ motion, Banjo remains a Registered Trustee until officially removed by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). He called on church members to engage in “deep, strong and persistent supplications” to restore the covenant of the church’s founder.
“It is better to suffer now and get justice that will move the Church forward than to wallow in a toxic peace and watch the Church die,” Banjo said.
The statement marks a pivotal moment in the CCC leadership crisis, with tensions continuing to rise between the church administration and its Trustees.
