Court Declares Northern CAN Unregistered Entity: “Hayab’s Chairmanship Built on Nothing” – Oibe

By Tgnews Reporter

The leadership of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern CAN) has reacted sharply to Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment in Kaduna, insisting that the ruling completely destroys any claim by Mr. Joseph Hayab to the chairmanship of the 19 Northern States and FCT chapter.

In a press statement issued on November 28 and signed by Elder Sunday Oibe, Secretary of Northern CAN, the body described the court’s decision as proof that Mr. Hayab’s emergence in February 2025 stands on no legal foundation whatsoever.

The court held that the Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern States and the FCT is not a registered association known to law, has no legal personality, cannot sue or be sued, and does not operate in conformity with the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

Elder Oibe stressed that an unregistered body cannot validly conduct elections or confer legitimate office on anyone, adding that “one cannot build something on nothing and expect it to stand.”

The statement rejected widespread media reports suggesting the ruling legitimised Mr. Hayab’s position, calling such narratives deliberate propaganda and outright falsehood.

It pointed out that the court never pronounced on the core issue in the suit: whether the process that produced Mr. Hayab followed due process or whether a non-member can lawfully organise and oversee an election for the body.

Northern CAN maintained its longstanding position that the tenure of Rev. Yakubu Pam had been formally extended by the Executive to allow the finalisation of a new electoral by-law, and that Mr. Hayab’s exercise was hurried, irregular, and fundamentally flawed from the outset.

While awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment to decide the next legal steps, the leadership urged members across the North to remain calm and prayerful and to ignore distortions in the media.

It reiterated in unmistakable terms that Mr. Hayab is not the legitimate Chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern States and the FCT, no matter how he continues to present himself.

The statement closed with a firm commitment to pursue justice through every lawful means “for the sake of truth, righteousness, the integrity of our founding fathers, and to ensure that falsehood and the unprincipled quest for power do not prevail.”

The ruling has sent shockwaves through Christian communities in Northern Nigeria and raised fresh questions about the legal standing of the regional chapters of CAN, with many now watching to see whether the crisis will be resolved internally or fought all the way to the Court of Appeal.