Top Christ Embassy Pastors Dragged To Court Over ‘Seed’

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Seven pastors of the Believers Love World Ministry a.k.a Christ Embassy Church are reportedly engrossed in a scandal after they allegedly attempted to force a member to use his N2.5m music recording contract that he had with the church to sow seed.

However, the member, Ikwan Onwuka declined to sow any seed with the money and they therefore refused to pay him despite the fact that the General Overseer, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome directed the pastors to pay him.

He thereafter headed to the High Court for the court to order the church to pay him and joined the pastors who were referred as directors in the contract in the suit. The seven pastors were Evangelist Kathy Oyakhilome, Pastor Tom Obiaze, Pastor Linda Okocha, Pastor Ose  Oyakhilome, Pastor Mary Owase, Pastor Shola Olubode and Deacon Emeka Enene.

The High Court sitting at Igbosere in Lagos Island has ordered that Christ Embassy Church should pay Onwuka N64m damages for cheating him, with the interest accrued from the money.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that  Onwuka who was a church member entered into a contract agreement with the Believers Love World Music production section of the church about four years ago to produce music for the label. He was considered for the contract not only because he was an active member of the church but he also qualified for the job.

According to the plaintiff, he did not bargain high for the contract sum as against what he would have done if it was outside the church. The agreement was signed by the pastors who wanted him to use the same money to sow seed. He said he had used all his money to produce the music, handed it over to them, they removed his brand, put the church’s brand and sold millions of the copies.

However, trouble started after the church had sold the albums, made millions of Naira and he demanded for his own money as agreed. It was at that point that they started giving flimsy excuses and asked him to donate the money to the church as seed. He said he declined and reported the matter to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome who directed the pastors to pay him the money. They did not pay him but rather blocked every access for him to meet Pastor Chris again,so he then went to court.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the trial dragged on for three years until this year when the court gave judgment in his favour.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that in the judgment delivered by Justice O.A. Williams, the court ordered the church to pay him the amount including the interest accrued from the debt they owed him on the contract. The trustees did not appeal the judgment by the time the appeal period elapsed and he now wants the execution of the judgment to recoup his money from the church.

When our correspondent contacted one of the trustees who is also sister to Pastor Chris, she said they were arranging to pay him the initial money to avoid Pastor Chris knowing that they did not pay the money as he directed.