From Okwe Obi, Abuja
A Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Wuse II, Rev. Azaki Nash, has been cleared of sexual misconduct allegation claims levelled against him.
The Chairman of the District Church Council (DCC), Samson Jonah, declared him innocent of all allegations and recalled him from suspension on the 23rd of March.
Nash was petitioned by Dr George Ogunyomi, a legal practitioner from O.E.B Offiong and Co Chambers in Abuja, acting on behalf of concerned church members.
In the petition submitted to ECWA Headquarters on January 6, 2025, the concerned members called for the removal of Rev. Nash from his position at the church due to allegations of sexual assault, among other allegations.
Dr Ogunyomi, in his letter of February 3, 2025, sent to the ECWA Headquarters on behalf of the concerned members, accused the pastor of breaching ECWA’s established guidelines and being allowed to remain in office despite clear evidence of his misconduct.
But Ogunyomi, in a statement yesterday, frowned at the decision of the DCC chairman, noting that the matter was handled with kid gloves.
According to him, the embattled pastor was hurriedly restored to his position as senior pastor of the church on Sunday, March 23, 2025, contrary to the recommendations of the investigative committee set up by the Garki District Church Council (DCC) of ECWA.
“This has led the concerned members of the church to pass a vote of no confidence on the chairman because of the way the Garki District Church Council handled the report of the investigative committee assigned to the case,” he said.
According to him, the crisis has reached a tipping point, with members warning that, unless Rev. Nash is immediately reassigned, the Wuse II congregation could be left in turmoil, and the leadership at ECWA Headquarters risks losing its credibility and authority.
“The credibility of the DCC, led by Rev. Samson Jonah, Chairman of the Garki District Church Council (DCC), has also come under fire. Concerns have been raised that the chairman has distorted the facts of the case, despite the overwhelming evidence presented, and completely ignored the recommendations of the investigative committee.
“This lack of transparency has led to questions about the integrity of the process. Rev. Jonah’s history of selectively releasing information that aligns with his personal agenda has further eroded trust in his leadership.
“Another embarrassing situation the church finds itself in is that a pastor who is on suspension and still under criminal investigation with NAPTIP was verbally asked to resume duties while the headquarters was yet to decide on his case,” he added.
He called on the ECWA Executive (EE) to conduct a thorough investigation into the actions of the DCC, particularly any unbiblical conduct. They are urging the EE to examine the committee’s original, unaltered report and take appropriate action based on the findings.
“The members are demanding that the ECWA Executive take immediate control of ECWA Wuse II to restore transparency, accountability, and uphold the principles of ECWA. The concerned members are also calling for justice to be served for all parties involved and for the truth to be revealed to restore trust and integrity within the church,” he said.