APOSTLE O. N. GODWIN REV. M.U. UDOGU THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF CHRIST ASCENSION CHURCH NIG. V. ELDER F.U. OKWEY CHIEF NDIDI OKAFOR THE CURRENT COMMUNICATIONS LTD MOSES ORJI BRO CLEMENT WILLIMA (DECEASED)

THOMAS JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The appeal is against the ruling of High Court of Abia State Judicial Division delivered on 23 November 2004staying furtherproceedings in the substantive matter pending the determination of the appeal on jurisdiction to the Supreme Court in suit No. A/404/92, a similar sister case to this present appeal. The said ruling of this matter is contained at pages 23-30 of the record of appeal.

The brief facts of this matter as can be deduced in the statement of claim and the statement of defence at pages 6-10 and 11-13 of the records of appeal, is that crises rocked the entire Chirst Ascension Church inthe 1990’s. The 1st respondent, beingthen the National President of the youth fellowship of the church led the youths to criticize some alleged ills and non-ethical conducts, rangingfrom lack of accountability, disregard of doctrinal values, and promotion of wide spread immoral behaviour in the church by the Registered Trustees of the church, as well…