The Adamawa Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Secretary, Rev Anthony Elishama replied the Chairman, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza that the accusation levelled against him that led to his suspension was done in bad faith as he is not guilty of any offence.
Elishama in a letter addressed to the CAN chairman insisted that he is interested on how he came about the shortfall of N1, 350, 000.00 (One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) in the NIREC fund.
He said by his record and indeed CAN record at his disposal on the management of NIREC fund has not shown any shortfall, his purported letter of suspension has not shown how he arrived at such shortfall and is personally interested in how him and indeed the Exco came about such shortfall.
He continued to say that the issue of refund of N1, 350, 000.00 (One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) does not arise at all until he is shown where, when and how he mismanaged the NIREC fund and he appears before an independent or relevant committee which finds him culpable of such mismanagement.
“Following the above, it is clear that the issue of return of CAN documents and properties including the official car in my possession does not arise. I want to state categorically that I remain the Secretary of the CAN Adamawa State Chapter until due process is followed and I am otherwise directed by the appropriate authority.” He said
The letter in details:
The Chairman, 22nd June 2020
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
Adamawa State Chapter
MOST REV. DR. STEPHEN MAMZA DAMI
CAN Secretariat, Jimeta Yola
Sir,
RE: NOTIFICATION OF SUSPENSION
Calvary greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
I received the above-captioned letter and I wish to react as follows:
1. I received the purported letter of my suspension with utmost shock and amazement as no issue of any suspension was discussed in our meeting on 19th June 2020. I, however, want to state categorically that by the provisions of our Constitution, you and indeed the entire CAN Executive, Adamawa State Chapter lack the requisite powers or authority to suspend me from office. Your action does not have any foundation in our Constitution. Therefore, my purported suspension as contained in the letter dated 20th June 2020 is ultra vires, abuse of office, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
2. I do not know how you came about the shortfall of N1, 350, 000.00 (One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) in the NIREC fund. My record and indeed CAN record at my disposal on the management of NIREC fund has not shown any shortfall. Your purported letter of suspension has not shown how you arrived at such shortfall. I am personally interested in how you and indeed the Exco came about such shortfall.
3. The issue of refund of N1, 350, 000.00 (One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) does not arise at all until I am shown where, when and how I mismanaged the NIREC fund and I appear before an independent or relevant committee which finds me culpable of such mismanagement.
4. I have always given details of the expenditure of NIREC fund to the Chairman and he has never raised any issue or question on that in the last 30 months that we have been in office. The Chairman is aware and knows all expenditures made from the NIREC fund. Thus, you and indeed the CAN Exco have never requested any financial report from me on the management of NIREC fund. You are fully aware of all the monthly lodgments of NIREC fund into the Zenith Bank Account since the inception of this administration and you have never raised any question on it. I have not appeared before any Committee of the CAN on any issue of financial mismanagement neither have I been indicted by any Committee for any financial impropriety or mismanagement to warrant any purported suspension. I have never been confronted with such a grievous allegation of mismanagement of fund by you or any member of the CAN Exco. Therefore, my purported suspension as contained in your letter dated 20th June 2020 is clearly in bad faith. This is underscored by the manner in which the purported letter of suspension was circulated to individuals and groups, particularly the media houses both print and electronics to tarnish my image and the reputation of the Block I represent in the CAN.
5. Following the above, it is clear that the issue of return of CAN documents and properties including the official car in my possession does not arise. I want to state categorically that I remain the Secretary of the CAN Adamawa State Chapter until due process is followed and I am otherwise directed by the appropriate authority.
Thank you.
Yours in the Lord,
Rev. Anthony D. Elishama
Secretary
CAN Adamawa State Chapter.
Cc:
1. The Zonal CAN Chairman, North East.
2. CAN Block Leaders, Adamawa State.
3. Local Government CAN Coordinators.
4. YOWICAN Chairman.
5. WOWICAN Chairperson.
Recall that a Press Release was issued on 20th June 2020 by the state secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria that Mr Anthony Elishama has been suspended for three months.
A press release by the state chairman of CAN, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza says the suspension followed the meeting of the state executive held on Thursday.
He explained that Mr Anthony Elishama suspension is a result of mismanaging of NIREC funds of one million three hundred and fifty thousand nairas adding that the state executive of Christain Association of Nigeria expressed disappointment by the secretary action.
Bishop Dami Mamza noted that the present leadership of CAN have zero tolerance to any type of financial indiscipline saying the unanimously resolve that he proceed on three months suspension from today the twenty June twenty pending the state executive committee final decision on the issue.
The statement further stated that he refund the sum of one million three hundred and fifty thousand nairas to CAN within the period of his suspension.
He should also immediately summit all CAN documents and properties including the official car at his possession to CAN Secretariat administration.
