The Federal Government has on Sunday, October 12, 2014 declared the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor innocent all allegations that relate to the involvement of his aircraft in which was reportedly used in the $9.3m controversial arms deal in South Africa.
Dr. Doyin Okupe, the senior special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan in Public Communication, reporters in Abuja that the founder of Word of Life Bible Church, is innocent of the controversial $9.3 million arms deal allegation and that he has no business with the transaction.
Okupe said: “Most Nigerians do not also respect the sensibilities of other people. Oritsejafor is the President of CAN and head of all Christians in Nigeria who is representing at least 50 per cent of people in this country. When it comes to a man like that, people should be cautious and circumspect.”
The first reaction of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor when the 9.3 million arms allegation was raised against him stirs a lot of controversy which prompted some participative political and religious schorlars to call for his immediate resignation. He was quoted to have said;
“The media has been awash in the past few days about an unfortunate incident involving the movement of funds from Nigeria to South Africa. In the unfortunate news reports, attempts have been made to link me directly with the transaction. So far I have refrained from making any direct public statement pending the time that I would have briefed the leaders of the church and explained my position on the issues to them.” He stated
He however explained his own side of the story on Sunday October 12,2014 at an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council, NEC, and expansion of CAN. I n his report, he reiterated that he is innocent of all allegation and claimed the allegation was fuelled by the enemies of CAN
“I believe that the primary institution that I owe any explanation to is the church. Permit me to thank everyone who stood by me these past days by ways of prayers, as well as strongly defending me even though I have not undertaken any public defence of myself”. He stated
