By Marie-Therese Nanlong

JOS—Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, North Central Zone, yesterday, warned individuals and groups to desist from making unguarded utterances on the person and office of the president of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, over the alleged $9.3m arms deal in South Africa.

Oritsejafor

The Association took exception to what it termed “unwarranted attacks” on CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor saying such actions are capable of misleading members of the public.

It said in a statement by its chairman, Rev. Yakubu Pam and secretary, Rev. Moses Ebuga, “We have been watching with keen interest the unfolding events since September 5, 2014 when the scandal broke out and attempts by individuals and groups to rope CAN into the whole affair. We wish to state clearly that CAN as a body does not have a private jet.

This is owned by an individual and as such CAN has nothing to do with the jet and its mission. Moreover, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor as the president of CAN has informed us formally of the area of his involvement in which he only leased the jet out and nothing more.

“Since it is not in his place to monitor who will hire the aircraft from the company it, it does not follow to extend his role involvement beyond the point. Besides, the Federal Government has accepted responsibility of the transactions involving the jet in South Africa and as such it would be mischievous for anybody to scandalise the church and the CAN President over the whole issue.”