Sacked Methodist Church Priest Drags Church To Court
A priest of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Very Rev. Uchenna Michael Ugorie, has initiated legal proceedings against the registered trustees of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, along with four additional parties.
Ugorie is seeking reinstatement to fulfill the remainder of his five-year term as Rector of the Methodist Theological Institute in Umuahia, which he asserts commenced on May 22, 2020.
In a lawsuit designated HU/188M/2024, filed at the Abia State High Court 3 in Umuahia, Ugorie expressed his grievances regarding his removal from the official residence of the MTI. This action was executed via a letter from the Secretary to the Conference, Rt. Rev. Babatunde Abiodun Taiwo, instructing him to relinquish his position to an acting Rector, Very Rev. Kingsley Nwaike, and to take compulsory leave starting June 20, 2024, without any prior notification.
Ugorie further contended that the Methodist Church authorities leveled accusations against him despite the absence of any witness testimony during the investigation conducted by a Church-established panel.
He claimed to have been subjected to humiliation and forcibly removed from the official quarters of the Theological Institute in Umuahia without being afforded the chance to defend himself.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the Counsel representing the five respondents, J. O. Johnson, raised objections to a motion filed by the applicant’s Counsel, Obike Onyemere.
In response, the Presiding Judge, Justice A. U. Agwu, postponed the proceedings to May 6, 2025, to consider any objections from the respondents’ Counsel and to ensure a thorough hearing of the case.
It is noteworthy that in October 2024, Ugorie alleged during a press conference that his family was forced to seek shelter in a classroom in Umuchime Osah, Umuahia North LGA, following his sudden dismissal and the subsequent eviction of his family from the staff quarters by the Methodist Church authorities.
