RT. REV. LAMBERT OSITA OPARA REV. RUFUS UWUAJOKU ONUEKWUSI REV. DANIEL EKEJI REV. ADOKPHUS AGUIHE REV. MOSES EWURUM REV. EUGENE AHAOTU HON. JUSTICE NGOZI OPARA MR. NELSON NWOLE MR. MARCEL OGUIKE CHIEF FRANCIS NWAGIRIGA V. THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE CHRIST METHODIST ZION CHURCH

OGEBE, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The respondents sued the appellants on the 13th of November, 1984 before an Owerri High Court seeking the following reliefs:

“(1) A declaration that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th defendants in the above suit are no longer Ministers and Members of the Christ Methodist Zion Church;

(2) A declaration that the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th defendants in this suit are no longer Members of the Christ Methodist Zion Church;

(3) An order of the court for the defendants to surrender and/or return to the plaintiffs all monies and properties of Christ Methodist Zion Church in their possession or custody by virtue of their membership and position in the said Christ Methodist Zion Church; 

4. An injunction perpetually restraining the defendants, their servants and/or agents from: interfering with the management, control, affairs, properties and business of the said Christ Methodist Zion Church in the parishes of the said Church in Imo State and more particul…