A priest of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Very Rev. Uchenna Michael Ugorie has sued the registered trustees of the Methodist Church, Nigeria and four others.

The priest is demanding that he be reinstated to complete his single five-year tenure as Rector of Methodist Theological Institute, Umuahia, which he said started on 22/5/2020.

In a suit marked HU/188M/2024 filed at Abia State High Court 3, Umuahia, Ugorie lamented that he was ejected from the MTI’s official quarters through a letter written by the Secretary to the Conference, Rt. Rev. Babatunde Abiodun Taiwo, which ordered him to hand over to an acting Rector, Very Rev. Kingsley Nwaike and proceed on compulsory leave on June 20, 2024 without prior notice.

Ugorie added that the authorities of the Methodist Church Nigeria brought some allegations against him even when no witness testified against him before a Panel that was set up by the Church to investigate him.

The applicant alleged that he was humiliated and thrown out of the official quarters of the Theological Institute in Umuahia without being given the opportunity to say anything.

When the matter was called up for hearing on Wednesday, the Counsel to the five respondents, J O. Johnson objected to a motion brought by the Counsel to the applicant, Obike Onyemere.

But the Presiding Judge, Justice A. U. Agwu adjourned the matter to May 6, 2025 to listen to any objection that may come from the respondents’ Counsel and for proper hearing of the matter.

It would be recalled that Ugorie in October 2024 during a press conference, alleged that his family took refuge inside a classroom in Umuchime Osah, Umuahia North LGA, following his abrupt removal from office and the family’s ejection from staff quarters by authorities of the Methodist Church.

Priest drags Methodist Church to court over termination of job, ejection from quarters