Court Dismisses Suit Against Nigerian Baptist Convention

An Oyo State High Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former Baptist pastor, Emmanuel Oyekan, alongside four others against the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) and its leadership.

Justice O.A. Adetujoye of Court 11 of the Oyo State High Court Complex, Ring Road, Ibadan, dismissed the suit marked 1/710/2024, which challenged the authority of the Convention and its President, Rev. Israel Akanji to disrobe Oyekan and nine other pastors, and to dis-fellowship Ajegunle Baptist Church, Agbowo, Ibadan.

The action, filed in June 2024 by Oyekan alongside Rev. Dr. C.D. Oluwabukola, Deacon I.O. Akanmu, Mrs. B.D. Oyewole, and Sister Olajoke Akinyemi, contested the Convention’s disciplinary actions conveyed in a letter dated June 10, 2024.

While the suit was pending, some members of Ajegunle Baptist Church and six pastors from its daughter churches publicly distanced themselves from the plaintiffs, who led a breakaway group identified as ‘New Glory Baptist Church.’

Following this development, the Convention rescinded its decisions regarding the six pastors and the church.

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The defendants, represented by the law firm of Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) & Co., filed a statement of defence along with a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

The objection argued that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to sue, as they were no longer recognised members of the Convention, having registered ‘New Glory Baptist Church’ as a separate legal entity with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Arguments on the preliminary objection were heard on March 18, 2025.

In his ruling delivered on Thursday, June 19, 2025, Justice Adetujoye upheld the objection and dismissed the case.

Reacting to the judgement, the Nigerian Baptist Convention expressed satisfaction with the judgement of the court dismissing the suit.

Secretary, NBC’s Board of Trustees, Seyon Idowu Koshoedo, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday, declared that, “all controversies over Ajegunle Baptist Church have been resolved in favour of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.”