Segun wrote:
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 06:53:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: RCCG Article
To: DAPO

Dear Sir,
I am sure you will agree with me that one of the hallmarks of a reputable media house is to publish rejoinders as Pointblank has done for this story. Please note that I neither work for nor hold brief for Pointblank.
The issue here is whether the granting AND usage of the duty waiver was expedient. As Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 6:12a "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient." I very much doubt that obtaining duty waivers to import luxury cars, in our potentially rich yet poor country due to widespread corruption, will be considered expedient for a Christian church in the mould of those who were so first called in Antioch -Acts 11:26.
If you are unsure as to what to consider expedient for Christians in this circumstance, you may read the following passages:
1. Matthew 19:21 about the rich man to whom Jesus said "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor (not the temple/synagogue/church or even Jesus & His apostles)". This same message is recorded in Mark 10:21.
2. Luke 19:8 about Jesus' visit to Zacchaeus' house whereupon he said to the Lord "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Kindly note again that he is giving to the poor not the temple/synagogue/church or even Jesus & His apostles. Furthermore also note his restoration (or restitution) promise to those whom he might have defrauded.
3. Luke 19:45-46 about Jesus Christ chasing out buyers & sellers out of the temple.
4. Isaiah 58:6-7 telling us about what kind of fast God wants.
This import duty waiver would have been a non-issue if the chuch had used AND made it known that it used it to build hospitals or schools etc where subsidised services/enrolment will be offered to needy people, even if only its members.
You may find parallels between this import duty waiver saga and the story of Naaman, Prophet Elisha and his servant Gehazi in 2 Kings 5.
I believe we Christains should continuously do a reality check to find if we are displaying the same attributes that led the people of Antioch to first call our predecessors Christians and not drifting towards Pharisees & Sadducees characteristics.
I wish you a blessed worship time in the presence of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ tomorrow. Amen.
Segun

DAPO wrote:
Thank you for providing the article. Although this article addressed
the "import waiver" issue but did not make any reference to RCCG,
Pastor Ghandi or Daddy G.O. Neither Daddy G.O nor Pastor Ghandi has
been mentioned by any "reputable" source as being involved in any
scandal. It is thus obvious that the devil wants to use the media to
stand in the way of God's work. The Bible tells us in the book of
Judges 1:2 , And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up. Indeed I
have delivered the land into his hand"
Furthermore, it is apparent that the article printed in PointBlank
represents "junk journalism" that fills the internet with "rumor."
Since the article did not allege that RCCG was involved in any wrong
doing, I see no reason for RCCG to respond. If a "fact-based" official
allegation is levied against RCCG, a truthful response is guaranteed.
I will suggest that you allow PointBlank to respond at this junction.
I will also ask that individual interested in these issues should make
sure they have an indepth knowledge of import waiver policies, not
only in Nigeria but in other countries.
May the heavy hands of Lord's mercy rest upon his children.
Regards

On Nov 22, 2007 2:27 AM, Segun wrote:
> Dear Sir,
>
> I believe you may find the reported response of the Minister of Finance on
> the subject matter informative. It is still available on The Sun News web
> site but extracted below.
> I will suggest that the church issues a fact-based denial in a TIMELY
> manner, which was my humble objective, or restitute the unpaid duties to the
> Federal Government, the collecting agent on behalf of the 140m largely
> impoverished Nigerians. It may however decide not to restitute IF the
> imported items conform to the waivers given and were substantially used for
> mainly charitable causes.
> Thank you and God bless.
>
> Segun
> -----------------------------------------
> Church in import waiver mess
> Finance Minister faults
> By Sun News Publishing
> Saturday, November 10, 2007
>
> Minister of Finance, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, has put a lie to the claim of the
> National Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Eng. S.
> L.S. Salifu, that the ministry was yet to furnish him with details of the
> churches that have seemingly abused the import waiver regime, as claimed by
> the minister.
>
> Usman says his office has not only replied, but had appealed that the issue
> be viewed from the economic point of view rather than imputing religious
> sentiments into it.
>
> In a statement responding to CAN's position, made available to Saturday Sun,
> the minister claimed that contrary to the CAN chief's accusation that he
> made wild allegations and declined to reply his letter requesting for
> details, he actually wrote back to the Christian body.
>
> He noted also that he named names and gave specific instances of churches
> that benefited from the windfall made possible by an indulging
> administration. The minister in a memo of October 10 with reference number
> FMF/OHMF/1 addressed to the CAN Secretary, Eng. S. L.S. Salifu, and signed
> on his behalf by his Special Adviser (Media), disputed the claims of the CAN
> chief at the Independence anniversary and noted:
> Minister's letter
> Kindly take note that the Honourable Minister of Finance was out of the
> country when your initial letter was received. Upon his return, he ordered
> that the information you requested, be communicated to you accordingly.
> We were therefore shocked by your inaccurate and misleading public comments
> about the subject matter and the person of the Honourable Minister while
> efforts were on to process your request as directed. And that you chose the
> occasion of the commemoration of our nation's 47th national day celebrations
> was indeed indiscreet and misguided, to say the least.
> However, the transcript of the relevant portion contained in the Honourable
> Minister's text of press conference is hereby reproduced for your guidance
> as follows:
> "When we issue these tax incentives, what is the purpose? Are we achieving
> the purpose, or are we just giving up revenue?
> "I was surprised. When you look at the list… I asked for the full list of
> all the waivers we've given from the Customs, FIRS, especially in those two
> areas.
> "A lot of government departments are asking, a lot of state governments are
> asking for these waivers. Then some private sector parties, (you know).
>
> "And even churches! Some people will say churches?, Yes! Churches can get
> waivers but when you see the amount of money involved, you then ask, what is
> a church doing with such kind of money?.
> "A state government, I mean, somebody is organizing some game, and he gets a
> waiver to import 600 motor cars. What do you need 600 or 800 motors vehicles
> for? I mean, there is serious abuse in this area that has to be stopped ! "
>
> It is therefore unfair and unjust of you to willfully label the Honourable
> Minister, by levying such grave allegations against his good person,
> reputation and track record.
> As you can now see, nowhere was the importation of 600 vehicles linked to
> any church in the Honourable Minister's speech, to warrant your deliberate
> and unkind misrepresentation of his person.
> In summary therefore, the Honourable Minister only expressed general
> reservation over inappropriate issuance of tax waivers to various levels of
> governments, agencies and non-corporates such as faith-based organizations –
> because of the massive loss of revenue involved, and the continued
> implication of this to our nation.
>
> Further to the above, and to prove the point made by the Honourable
> Minister, I enclose the relevant, unedited portion of the press conference
> in question for your guidance.
> And as a proof of his concern over the possible abuse to which they can be
> deployed, find attached, two samples of such import waiver details,
> variously granted to the … (church name withheld by us), the colossal amount
> involved, items imported and revenue implication to the nation.
>
> Now that you have been adequately availed of facts of the matter, I have no
> doubt that as a man of God, you will take necessary measures to correct your
> misrepresentation of the Honourable Minister, especially in the eyes of your
> members – whom you said had inundated your office with requests for
> clarification on the subject matter as contained in your letter under
> reference."
>
> According to the aides of the minister, the ministry had no reason to
> believe that the above letter, which was also copied to the president of
> CAN, had not got to the National Secretary as at the time he granted the
> said interview.
>
>
> DAPO wrote:
> Thank you for your respoonse.I am sure if the authors (or any other
> parties with valid info) are looking for an official response from
> RCCG, they know how to contact the church.
> I will suggest that the documents supporting these allegations should
> also be made available.
>
>
> On 11/21/07, Segun wrote:
> > Thank you Sir. Can I take this as an official denial by the Church so > > as to circulate it with your address?
> >
> >
> > DAPO wrote:
> > Pointblank News,
> >
> > Your recent article on RCCG represent an attempt to put stain on the
> > "scandal-free images" of these true men of God.
> > It represent "junk journalism" with no facts; the contents are
> > unfounded and are unsubstantiated allegations that merely create false
> > cloud and reflect negative intents.
> >
> > In the book of Matthew 16:18, the Bible tells us that "And I tell you
> > that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the
> > gates of Hades will not overcome it."
> >
> > The Lord that we serve is a faithful God; Daddy G.O and Pastor Ghandi
> > are God fearing people and will not be involved in any scandal.
> >
> >
> > Dapo
> >
> > On 11/21/07, Segun wrote:
> > Extracted from http://www.pointblanknews.com/
> >
> The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian
> Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye
> has been linked to a scandalous import duty waiver
> said to have cost Nigeria a whooping N20 Billion in
> revenue loss between 2006 and 2007.
>
> A Fiscal Commission source in Abuja preferring
> anonymity told Pointblanknews.com during the week
> that pastor Adeboye, tapping into his well-known
> ties with former President Olusegun Obasanjo
> benefited from the shady import duty waiver in which
> Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Mike Adenuga, Alhaji
> Saminu Turaki, Mr. Donald Duke and others were prime
> beneficiaries.
>
> According to the impeccable source, the duty waiver
> granted Adeboye was said to have been used
> “dishonestly” by the church to import luxury Sport
> Utility Van, SUV (usually called Jeep in Nigeria),
> building materials and Digital Recording equipment
> some of which were said to belong to top members of
> the church both within Nigeria and abroad. In other
> words, the source surmised that Adeboye used his
> high level connections to “aid and abate” his church
> members to defraud the nation by not paying the
> requisite importation fees.
>
> The source said that many of the RCCG’s faithful in
> Nigeria and abroad had celebrated the “unlawful act”
> as a “testimony to the goodness of the lord.” It was
> said that a Pastor Ghandi of the Jesus House, RCCG
> in Washington DC where the late first lady Mrs.
> Stella Obasanjo used to worship whenever she was in
> the United State, was a facilitator of the deal.
>
> Many of the luxury cars that were said to have been
> imported through the deal were not meant for private
> use. They were said to have been sold at several car
> dealerships across the country. The source explained
> to pointblanknews.com that even if the items were
> not traded, it was unheard of that “people would
> import duty-free luxury items into any country.”
>
> The official did not rule out the possibility of a
> thorough investigation of the deal which he said
> could make Adeboye to pay and possibly face charges.
>
>
> A document made available to pointblanknews.com
> indicated that in 2006, RCCG got an import waiver of
> N9,831,109,309.00 through certificate
> no.,BO/REV/12235/S.2/T.133 to import construction
> materials; generators and vehicles. The value of the
> imports was N49,155,546,846.00.
>
> advertisement
>
> In 2007, another import waiver was granted. This
> time through a certificate number
> BO/R10260/V111/161, RCCG was granted rights to
> import building/construction materials with value
> put at N48,988,454,876.00 with a total waiver of
> N9,757,690.975.20. The two waivers total
> N19,588,800,284,20, while the bulk transactions
> amount to N98,144,347,130.20.
>
> Also 300 luxury cars with value put at $6,923,000,
> 100 Jeeps (SUV) valued at $8,000,000, Video
> Equipment valued at $12,000,000.00, were all part of
> the shady import deals.
>
> It would be recalled that the comptroller General of
> Nigerian Customs Services, Mr. Jacob Gyang Buba had
> been investigated by the independent Corrupt
> Practices Commission, ICPC in connection with an
> annual loss of N50 Billion in respect of the
> importation tariff waiver introduced by the
> Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
>
> The spiritual depth of some practices of the RCCG
> has been subject of concern amongst growing
> conservative Christian worshippers. Adeboye is often
> criticized for being interested in quantity and not
> quality. He is said to have broken his church to
> model parishes were prosperity theology is often
> preached. The other class of followership is usually
> called Redeemed Classical. They are more mortified
> and often completely scriptural. Apart from
> Adeboye’s too cozy with the high and mighty elite,
> he was said to have given tacit blessing to
> ex-president Obasanjo’s third-term Presidential
> dream that was truncated with sudden humiliation.
> ===========
> P.S.: If you know of any fact-based riposte,
> response or denial from the church, please share
> with me so I can also forward it.
> Meanwhile this story, IF true, shows further why
> the growth of religious organisations in Nigeria has
> only resulted in societal and infrastructural decay,
> moreso when the immediate past president was given a
> certificate of Excellence by the Christian
> Association of Nigeria (i.e. in the name/on behalf
> of all Nigerian Xtians) before leaving office in
> May. Basically, someone decided that it was better
> to rob 140m Peters (Nigerians) to pay a few Pauls.
> It is difficult to imagine that OUR collective
> interest is better served by refusing to receive
> import duties to improve health, education or
> repair/maintain roads that could minimise fatal
> accidents, roadside armed robberies and even help
> prolong the lives of these luxury cars while
> increasing the comfort of the occupants.
> Alternatively, it could have reduced
> pensioners/civil servants' arrears thus alleviating
> their poverty and creating employment through its
> greater multiplier effect. But then how will a very
> few people have
> MORE luxury, MORE opulence and MORE ostentatious
> display of wealth (God's blessings?)
>
> * Render therefore unto Caesar
> (govt/society/community) the things (taxes/import
> duties/respect for law & order etc) which are
> Caesar's; and (then/therafter only) unto God the
> things that are God's.
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> Inbox cluttered with junk? Clean up with Yahoo! Mail.