The administrative court of Yaounde in the Centre region has suspended Minister Atanga Nji’s letter instituting leadership at the True Church of God of Cameroon.
The court, after investigating the matter for several months, ruled in favour of Pastor Tchana Landry as the legitimate leader of the church.
Worshippers told MMI that Atanga Nji’s letter has been causing lots of problems within the church. A certain pastor, Abate Francios, self-imposed himself as leader of the church with backing from Minat. That led to division within the church.
Origin of Crisis
In 2021, the founder of the True Church of God of Cameroon, Nesto Toukeu, died. The church, following its constitution, voted Pastor Tchana Landry as its leader.
Another pastor, Abate Francios, who was taking minutes, administered the oath of office to Tchana before the congregation.
However, Pastor Abate Francios, while forwarding the minutes of the elective general assembly, removed Pastor Tchana’s name and put his. After that, Pastor Abate started claiming leadership of the church and convened another elective general assembly in Ayos Yaounde, but it was banned by the Divisional Officer.
However, they violated the order and proceeded with it. Following that, Minister Paul Atanga wrote a letter to the church recognising Pastor Abate as a legitimate leader instead of Pastor Tchana Landry.
Matter taken to Court
After trying in vain to explain to the minister what transpired, Pastor Tchana took the matter to the Yaoundé Administrative Court in March 2024. The case was registered as between Pastor Tchana and Minat.
The court ruled in favour of Tchana Landry recently after the matter had dragged on for several months.
“The request for a stay of execution by Mr. TCHANA TCHAMY DANTSE Landry and others is justified; consequently, the effects of letter No. 0000609/L/MINAT/SG/DAP/SDP/SC of February 28, 2024, are suspended,” AISSATOU ABDOULAYE OUMAROU, acting administrative judge, ruled.
Church in Factions
While the matter was still pending in court, Pastor Abate seized the opportunity and brutalised church members. He had a pastor arrested during a sermon by police and gendarmes.
Church members were tortured and locked up for several days. Some were violently attacked in Bafoussam and Yaoundé.
Church members loyal to Pastor Landry Tchana have committed several atrocities, as documented by MMI. The True Church of God of Cameroon has thousands of worshippers across four regions of Cameroon.
Pastor Abate had claimed the founder was a Bamelike man and could not allow another Bamileke to take over. Church members informed MMI that some powerful people at Minat are backing Pastor Abate.
Even with the decision, MMI learnt from church members that those at Minat are planning to frustrate the court ruling.
“Force remains and will always return to the law because the truth never dies; it is the liars who die,” one of the church members wrote.
