Cleric gives Taraba police 7 days to release UMCN member

Leader of the Southern Conference of the United Methodist Church of Nigeria (UMCN), Rev. Philip Micah Dopah, Sunday gave the Taraba state police command 7 days ultimatum to release the caretaker of the Southern Conference Guest House in Lagos, Mr. Bigman Ishaku.

Blueprint reported that Dopah, who gave the ultimatum while briefing newsmen in Lankaviri village in Jalingo, said that the lingering crisis rocking the UMCN Church has its origin.

He noted one Rev. John Wesley Yohanna was the brain behind the current crisis the church is witnessing at the moment.

He maintained that John Wesley had allegedly accused Governor Darius Ishaku of fueling the crisis in the church.

“After accusing Gov Ishaku, he has this time taken it to the police by conspiring with them to arrest our member who is the caretaker of Southern Conference Guest House in Lagos.

“He should not forget that he instituted a court case through his trustee and the matter is before the competent court of law.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that there was an attempt to demarcate and share the properties of the church among the 3 annual conferences; the Southern Conference, Central Conference and Northern Conference in 2010 by the West African College of Bishops, chaired by the late Bishop John Yambasu of blessed memory but that process was frustrated by Rev. John Wesley Yahanna,” he said.

He warned that the church is still in crisis,  adding that each side is still holding unto all properties, and their documents were still being held by each side.

He lamented that the arrest of Mr. Bigman Ishaku by the police allegedly on the order of Rev. John Wesley Yohanna was unwarranted and unlawful.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Taraba state police command, DSP David Misal said he was not aware of the arrest of Mr. Bigman Ishaku.