CAN drags FG to court over CAMA
For insisting on the implementation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government.
CAN said in a statement by its general secretary, Joseph Daramola on Monday, in Abuja that it dragged the federal government to court to contest some provisions of CAMA, which it is not comfortable with.
The case with a suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/244/2021 filed at the federal high court in Abuja, has the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and minister of industry, trade and investment as respondents.
“The association resolved to go to court after all attempts to convince the federal government why it should not intervene or interfere with the management of the Church in the country through any of its agencies failed,” Daramola said.
He also added, “the satanic section of the controversial and ungodly law is Section 839 (1) & (2), which empowers the Commission to suspend trustees of an association (in this case, the church) and appoint the interim managers to manage the affairs of the association for some given reasons, is unacceptable.”
President Buhari signed CAMA into law on August 7.
According to the law, religious bodies and charity organisations will be regulated by the registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and a minister.
However, in September, the Christian body asked President Buhari to suspend the implementation of the law. The FG’s refusal to accede to the demand of CAN precipitated the court action.
CAMA 2020 provides that the commission may by order, suspend the trustees of an association or a religious body and appoint an interim manager or managers to coordinate its affairs, where it reasonably believes that there has been any misconduct or mismanagement, or where the affairs of the association are being run fraudulently, or where it is necessary or desirable for the public interest.
However, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had counselled church leaders who were aggrieved over CAMA 2020 to approach the national assembly.
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