Tributes Paid to General Secretary of Council of African and Caribbean Churches

Tributes have been paid to the Most Senior Apostle James Ozigi, general secretary of the Council of African and Caribbean Churches and chair of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in the UK, who died tragically in Nigeria on 8 November.

Mr Ozigi was travelling in a car from Lagos to Ibadan when a tyre on the car burst and the car crashed. He died later in hospital. His wife, Elizabeth, his brother and the driver were also injured. Elizabeth is still being treated for her injuries.

Nigerian born Ozigi was on the staff of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland for 14 years, working for the Churches' Commission for Racial Justice (CCRJ), which he described CCRJ as "a voice for the voiceless". During the 1980's, he was deported from the UK and with CCRJ's support, the deportation was revoked.

CCRJ is well known for its anti-racism work and for organising Racial Justice Sunday when thousands of Christians pray for an end to racism and injustice and raise money for the Racial Justice Fund.

As Executive Secretary of the Racial Justice Fund Mr Ozigi visited projects and saw lives transformed by grants from the Fund, a mark of achievement he was particularly proud of.

"The Church has expressed itself in a most dynamic way by giving to these projects, by not just campaigning but making a financial contribution to say "we are on your side", whether to asylum seekers or relatives of those who've died in custody," he once said. "The Church has demonstrated its ability to stand with the marginalised and oppressed in this country."

Mr Ozigi left CCRJ in May when declining funds from the Churches prompted CCRJ to find a new direction for its work. However, the projects supported by the Racial Justice Fund continue to be central to CCRJ's work.

The new staff of CCRJ have paid tribute to his Ozigi's contribution to racial justice work in Britain and Ireland and said their thoughts and prayers were with his wife and family.

The Rev Arlington Trotman, a former colleague, said: "The sudden passing of James has been profoundly shocking and he will be a massive loss to his family and all his colleagues.

"His important contribution to the work of racial justice in Britain and Ireland will stand as a fitting memorial for someone who began life in Britain as a person seeking asylum.

"James and I worked together over seven and half years. He was a devout Christian pastor and friend including to the many projects with whom he worked for over 14 years. Naturally, he will be deeply missed."

In September 2005 during a joyful service to mark the 40th anniversary of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in the UK, His Grace Baba Aladura Father Sam Abidoye ordained James Ozigi Most Senior Apostle. His Grace is the new Baba Aladura ('Spiritual Father') of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement worldwide and James succeeded him in UK as council chairman.

James Ozigi attended the Central Committee of the Conference of European Churches, personally invited as an Observer.

He leaves a wife, Elizabeth and four grown-up children, Mary, twins Deborah and Sarah, and Peter.