By OLA AJAYI, IBADAN

OPEN confrontation is imminent between two factions in the crises-ridden Christ Apostolic Church following a judgment of a Federal High Court in Lagos delivered on 1st March, 2011.

Though, the faction led by the Secretary of the Supreme Governing Council, Pastor James Akintola has appealed against the judgment which was given by Justice Stephen Adah in favour of Olusheye’s faction, it maintained that the court never gave any order that all the property of the church should be handed over to its rival.

The two factions have been embroiled in crises for the past 21 years over which of them has the authority to head the church.

While speaking with newsmen at CAC, Irefin, Ibadan yesterday, Pastor Akintola whose faction is also claiming authenticity, warned the other faction to be law abiding and give recognition to the appeal filed against the judgment adding that “any unlawful attempt to execute a purported order that is not given by the court, shall be resisted very strongly by all members of the church”.

He said, “members of the church are law abiding and will remain so whatever the situation, in obedience to the scriptural injunction”.

The cleric explained that what the court said was that all the property of the church were commonly owned by all members of the church and that trustees merely held such property for their members.

He calmed the frayed nerves of the teeming members of the church that they should go about their normal church activities without any fear and should not hesitate to report any threat or intimidation from anybody to the church authority.

Describing the judgment as a rude shock, he informed all pastors and members of the CAC in general that appeal had already been filed and that the position of the law was for both sides to remain where they were pending the determination of the appeal.